Getting hold of donated PCs
Howard Lake | 6 September 1998 | News
Charities know that they need PCs to fundraise. UK Fundraising has started to help fundraisers by listing resources that help you locate unwanted IT equipment. There is only one resource at present, a US site, but more will be added.
Recycled computers for charities
Computers are essential to fundraising, but too often a charity’s activities can be seriously hindered by lack of access to the necessary equipment. Yet we all know that companies and individuals are throwing away fully-functioning computers everyday, in order to buy the latest model. So, how do you find out where to get hold of these “unwanted” computers? We offer some resources that could help you.
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UK
- Advanced Systems and Support runs ComputerAid!, a PC recycling project to fulfil the needs of schools and voluntary bodies and the disposal needs of business. Contact: 0181 694 0944.
- Bytes Twice: 0171 248 0242
- Computeraid International recycles computers from both consumers and business for use in the developing world.
- Computers for Charity
- Gifts in Kind UK is a registered charity that over two years has obtained over £5 million worth of goods for distribution to the voluntary sector and has helped over 1,000 charities in the UK. Tel: 0171 204 5003.
- ReGeneration 2000 – helps companies to realise the true value of the IT equipment it no longer requires. It works with community relations departments to enable organisations to donate PCs to charities of their choice, or sell their PC equipment and donate the proceeds.
- What is the most PC thing to do with that old PC? – 20 September article in The Observer Charity series.
North America
- Philanthropy Journal Online’s Computer Recycling Resource List lists US organisations that recycle and/or donate
computers. - Share the Technology – offers three databases:
- National database of computer donations requested and offered
- National database of computer recycling/reuse projects
- Database of computer repair information, software, nonprofit info, tips for teachers and other information.
This site is very useful, whether you are searching for computer donations, have machines to donate, or would like to offer help to people who are trying to keep their older computers running.
Other items
Peripheral computer items can also be recycled and make money for charities.
- The British Institute for Brain Injured Children recycles inkjet and laser jet toner cartridges from computers and fax machines. Contact BIBIC Trading Company, tel: 01278 684060.
Other ideas
- Scan lists of redundancies and company closures: Tony Bloome, resource development manager at the National Homeless Alliance did just that and spotted 1,000 redundancies at Barclaycard. A telephone call to Barclaycard yielded six 486 computers which were then distributed to homeless groups.
Source: ThirdSector, 29 October 1998, p.40
- Dell to allow consumers to donate used PCs to charity (23 September 2004)
- Vodafone and Barnardo’s ask for donated phones for Afghan refugees (22 September 2021)
- Thousands of DAB radios to be donated to vulnerable over-70s (31 March 2020)
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.