Laptop donation appeal to help 1,000 homeless people

A social enterprise is appealing to the public and businesses to donate their old laptop computers so that they can be refurbished and given to people who have experienced homelessness.

The aim is to collect 1,000 laptops by 2020, which will be distributed by homelessness charity Thames Reach to the people using its services with the aim of helping them get their lives back on track and do the things we all take for granted – such as apply for jobs online and keep in touch with family and friends.

The appeal is being made by the Laptops for Homeless People initiative run by SocialBox.biz, a London based social enterprise that donates IT equipment to benefit people’s lives.

The initiative has already donated 150 refurbished laptops to Thames Reach.

SocialBox.Biz’s Peter Paduh said: “It’s about bettering our communities and societies by taking the laptops some view as no longer needed and giving them to the people who need them the most.”

Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, said: “These laptops will give the homeless and marginalised people who receive them the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and access advice to improve their skills and employment prospects.”

Yussuf Omer, who experienced homelessness, but is now housed and learning about computers at IT sessions run at Thames Reach’s Employment Academy in the London Borough of Southwark, is one of the laptop recipients. He said: “I’ve never had a computer before, so getting a laptop has been great for me, helping me with my personal development.”

To donate laptops, email info@socialbox.biz or visit www.socialbox.biz/homeless-support.