Case Study
Recycle-IT: Tackling Digital Exclusion in Bolton
Recycle-IT, established in 2021, operates within the communities of Bolton. The charity’s core mission is to reduce digital exclusion, promote sustainability, and create training and employment opportunities, with a strong focus on supporting low-income households. Many families in these circumstances lack essential digital skills because they have limited access to the internet and do not have the necessary IT equipment.
With digital access becoming a crucial part of daily life post-pandemic for education, employment and everyday services, lack of access to a computer or the internet can lead to a disconnect from society. To address this, Recycle-IT has collected over 100 electronic devices to be refurbished and distributed. Their ongoing work aims to reduce the 15% of households that don’t have easy access to the internet by removing the barriers that hold people back.
Through their redistribution services, they have supported more than 1,000 families and individuals since their relaunch. As a result, access to essential services, job searches, and online education has become far more achievable, enhancing people’s experiences and opening pathways to new opportunities.
How funding helps
Refurbishing IT hardware is not free. Donated items can arrive in a range of conditions from slight damage to requiring skilled repairs and specialised components. Carrying out refurbishments can become costly as sourcing of trained individuals or training volunteers is necessary, as is the purchase of any parts required.
The CHIP Community Chest Fund supported essential training and the purchase of materials needed to sustain ongoing refurbishment work. This contribution not only enhanced the quality and quantity of refurbished electronic devices, but also deepened volunteers’ understanding of the importance of reducing the digital divide within society.
The £5,000 fund enabled Recycle-IT to expand the support offered through its programmes, boost its refurbishment capacity and reach more people who previously could not access online services. The funding made a clear, measurable impact, strengthening community engagement, improving digital accessibility and helping more individuals participate fully in an increasingly digital society.
Visit www.chipcharity.org.uk/community-chest-fund/ to find out how your organisation can apply for funding to support your community projects.