Tackling digital exclusion one laptop at a time

As a lack of access to digital resources continues to impact some of the most vulnerable people, Cleo Lake has renewed calls for tech donations.

The councillor and activist, who is also in the running to be the Green Party’s deputy leader, launched a campaign to provide laptops to those in need across Bristol when lockdown restrictions saw many activities move online.

The #GiveNTech initiative, delivered with partners including Avon Fire Authority and Bristol Waste, has helped combat loneliness among some of the city’s elderly residents and provided parents such as Mimi a valuable lifeline.

Mimi, who lives in the Ashley ward, says the gift of a laptop has meant her son has been able to access study materials online while schools were closed and enabled her to keep in touch with family.

She says: “It’s also helped me with being able to access services and support over lockdown and, as a single parent, those resources have been invaluable to both my son and I.”

The #GiveNTech campaign works by collecting, refurbishing and distributing unused IT hardware such as old laptops or tablets, which are donated, wiped of data, cleaned, fixed and given to those who need them.

Cleo, a Green councillor for Cotham, has been pressing Bristol City Council departments and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for support to ramp up the project and help it to reach the many more people who experience digital exclusion.

She said: “As well as providing laptops for children, I have also been assisting elders to get online which has been a joy – it has made a huge difference. Elders, many of whom have not been outside of their homes since early March, have been able to socialise again.

Cleo runs a weekly dance exercise class, which is now hosted online, and says it boosts people’s wellbeing to be able to join once more.

She added: “Even when the pandemic is long gone, a lack of access to digital resources will continue to hurt the life chances of children in poor families all over Bristol.

“But, whether for schoolchildren or elders, we still need many more laptops to meet demand for the campaign. Anyone with ideas or laptops please do get in touch, any and all support is welcomed. Residents in my own ward of Cotham have been particularly helpful having donated the largest number of laptops.”

People or organisations able to support the campaign or donate old IT hardware should contact Cleo Lake via cllr.cleo.lake@bristol.gov.uk.

Source: https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/tackling-digital-exclusion-one-laptop-at-a-time/