The Passage homeless charity in London has joined calls for businesses to donate their old unused laptops, as part of a scheme to help the most vulnerable in society.
SocialBox.Biz, a social enterprise dedicated to repurposing unwanted computers and other technology, is embarking on a mission to deliver batches of laptops to partner charities, including The Passage, in time for Christmas.
The campaign comes as Prince William visited The Passage to take part in the charity’s Christmas meal in his role as their Royal Patron.
SocialBox.Biz and The Passage are also celebrating seven years of working together to combat digital exclusion, which disproportionately affects people experiencing homelessness.
Peter Paduh, the founder and chairman of SocialBox.Biz, and a former Bosnian child refugee, said:
My life transformed when I received an old computer to support my education and integration into society. Donating usable laptops and other tech can provide a lifeline for refugees and other disadvantaged individuals striving to rebuild their lives.
Emily Rycroft‑Huddart, Employment Strategy Manager at The Passage, added:
SocialBox’s kind donations have had a profound impact on the people we support by bridging the digital divide for vulnerable individuals, including refugees and people experiencing homelessness, providing them essential tools for education, employment, and communication.
SocialBox.Biz is committed to giving back to the community and has recently launched the ‘Scholarships for Refugees and Homeless People’ scholarship program. The initiative aims to support universities and colleges in their efforts to give back to the community. The program provides funding for COMPTIAA+ training and more made possible through recent contributions of old but still functional Macbooks and computers from Imperial College London and Norwich University of the Arts.
Mylene Cannon, Support Manager of ICT, commented:
At Imperial College London, we believe in the transformative power of technology to drive positive change and empower communities. We are proud to contribute to SociaBox.Biz’s mission in fostering social innovation and sustainable development by donating devices that the university and our community no longer use.
