declutter – devizine.com

Wiltshire residents are being asked to donate their old Laptops, PCs & Mobile phones in the new year, as part of the 3rd annual Donate Your Digital Day…..

Taking place just after Christmas on Friday, January 10th, 2025, Donate Your Digital Day was created by Wiltshire Digital Drive (WDD) to encourage people to donate any tech they had replaced over the festive period such as laptops and tablets, to reduce the amount of technology that goes to landfill and to address digital poverty in the county.

Once donated, devices will be refurbished and handed back out to schools, organisations, and charities, to help people access the benefits that technology affords such as education, employment and better wellbeing.

Natalie Luckham, Chief Executive at Wiltshire Digital Drive, said: “We had such a positive response to previous Donate Your Digital Days. In 2022 we received 1,000 donated devices in just one day! We had a break last year but we’re back for 2025. So many people receive new laptops and tablets for Christmas, or treat themselves in the Black Friday or Boxing Day sales, now is the perfect time to let us have your old tech. By giving it to us, not only will the device help another member of our community, but it will also stop it going to landfill.”

“The figures speak for themselves. Since we began our mission in 2020, we’ve given more than 3,500 school children, families and organisations a laptop or computer. Imagine how many more we could help if we all worked together. And it’s not just members of the public that can get involved; we’re also asking businesses who are looking at upgrading their IT to consider donating their old tech to us.”

Local businesses across Wiltshire will be opening their doors to become drop off points for the donated items. They can be taken to:

Naturally Social, Melksham
Aster Housing, Devizes
Ford Dealership, Trowbridge
Hearing & Mobility Store, Marlborough/ Swindon/ Wroughton
Household Waste & Recycling Centre, Swindon
Castle Sundborn, Malmesbury
Godolphin School, Salisbury
Retro Relics Games Café, Market Lavington
The Mind Tree Café, Rowde
Town Councils in Bradford On Avon, Tidworth and Calne
The Home Guard Club, Warminster

Anyone wishing to help who doesn’t have a device to give can donate to the non-profit’s Gift of Tech Crowdfunder page. A £45 donation will cover all the parts needed to refurbish one laptop, with all donations match funded by the Aviva Community Fund. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-gift-of-tech

Please visit www.wiltshiredigitaldrive.org for opening times and locations where you can donate.

The CIC ensures that every piece of technology donated is tested and securely wiped. If a machine isn’t feasible to upgrade, it will remove all reusable parts and recycle the rest, so nothing goes to waste.