A social enterprise aims to build on the success of 2022 with a new call to businesses to help provide technology access to the most vulnerable in society.

Last year, SocialBox.Biz was able to support several charities in their work with the elderly, the homeless and refugees, all of whom are most likely to be without access to technology, such as laptops and smartphones.

SocialBox.Biz founder Peter Paduh relied on a donated computer to support his education and transition into society when he arrived as a refugee in the 1990s. Peter is calling on more businesses to support the scheme in 2023.

“The greatest measure of success at SocialBox.Biz is to see the impact we’ve made on individuals who have received a donation through one of our charity partners. Thanks to the generosity of the business community last year, we have helped more people get back on their feet than ever imaginable,” says Peter.

Some of the organisations who have benefited from the SocialBox.Biz programme include homeless shelter and charity Your Place.

“This new laptop is so valuable to me as I now can book my appointments online by myself. Not only does make my life so much easier, it will be key for me when I move out of here,” said Dulce, who was provided a free laptop via Your Place.

Another charity who has benefited from the programme is The Passage, whose patron includes HRH The Prince of Wales.

One of its clients Eduardo was made homeless after a series of events including the breakdown of a long-term relationship, substance abuse, and losing his job. Thanks to a laptop he received via SocialBox.Biz, Eduardo has found part-time work and enrolled in online Math and English courses with the ambition of becoming a mental health nurse.

The social enterprise has also been partnering with Migrant Help, a charity supporting refugees, people seeking asylum and survivors of human trafficking.

One of its clients, a survivor of domestic violence, wanted to pursue a ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) qualification to support his higher education and career goals. Although he was enrolled in college, he was unable to study outside of class because he didn’t have a laptop. SocialBox.Biz provided him with a laptop, and now, he is able to study for his course.

The donation has also improved his confidence and helped him apply for jobs. “The laptop has been really helpful as I can learn to practice my English,”  he said.

To find out more, please visit www.socialbox.biz.