Refurbished laptops help build skills and access to services

ESL Laptop Recycling Scheme

Digital poverty in Bristol means that many people are unable to get easy access to online learning, employment and local services. The Employment, Skills and Learning Service stepped up during Covid and are continuing to play a leading role in distributing recycled laptops to priority groups – parents/carers with few or no formal qualifications; unemployed people; young people at risk of disengaging from education; isolated older people.

The Community Learning Team oversee the distribution of laptops, working in partnership with the Council’s IT Team and Bristol Waste.

To date, ESL colleagues across all teams have handed over an amazing 2,510 laptops at people’s home and community locations. All recipients are supported with Mifi devises so they can access free data where required. Everyone receiving a laptop is asked to take part in a free short online digital skills course to help them make best use of their device and to stay safe.

Chloe Harvey received her laptop when she started the Roof Over My Head course, delivered in partnership with Bristol Housing to prevent homelessness. She said she was ‘blown away’ to realise that the laptop was hers to keep, even after her course. She said that without the laptop she would have struggled to access resources and activities on her phone which is not up to date.  The laptop has enabled Chloe to continue to learn new skills and has made so many services and opportunities more accessible through improved email and website capacity.

ESL have 550 laptops in our current batch left to distribute – if you know of someone in our priority groups that could benefit, please contact: lctinfo@bristol.gov.uk