Partner Article

New Computer Recycling Scheme launches at HM Prison, The Mount

‘Computers4All’ opens first PC Refurbishment Workshop at Hertfordshire Prison, to deliver affordable, high-quality computers for disadvantaged community groups

London, May 15th, 2014 - An innovative new Computer Recycling Scheme, Computers4all, has today been launched which aims to deliver low-cost, reliable, high quality PCs to disadvantaged communities, charities, and educational establishments. The scheme aims to refurbish and upgrade end- of- life PCs at specially dedicated Workshops, the first of which has now been opened at HMP The Mount, Bovingdon, Herts. A selected group of prison students are being trained with the hardware and software skills required to, build, configure and troubleshoot PCs to a high quality. This serves the dual purpose of providing affordable PCs to a wider section of the community, whilst equipping the adults in the centre with skills that can be used when they enter the workplace.

The Computers4All scheme aims to provide quality refurbished computers to wider sections of the community and make use of PCs, provided by corporate donors, which would otherwise have been disposed of. In so doing, the scheme delivers practical IT training and skills creation to groups of prison students. The first Refurbishment Centre has been established with the full backing of the Ministry of Justice; students within the centre will develop skills in troubleshooting, repair, software installation and configuration. This will help towards an industry recognised qualification, as well as enabling students to work within a structured environment with service level agreements, following stringent processes and strict quality control. Computers4All is a Registered Microsoft Refurbisher meaning that all machines supplied will have the latest Windows 7 operating system.

Computers4All will work in partnership with youth agencies, charities and educational organisations to provide the refurbished computers to individuals who are unable to purchase new computers. To this end, Computers4All has agreed its first partnership with Langdon - a UK charity offering support, education and employment opportunities for vulnerable youth and adults with learning disabilities - which are managing sales of the refurbished PCs through an on-line store. Computers4all is currently recruiting other partners.

Mark Abrahams, CEO of Computers4All comments: “Although we live in a digital age, there are still large sections of society that simply don’t have access to online services that many of us may take for granted. For some, even the most basic new equipment is too expensive. At the same time, a 4 to 5 year old corporate machine which may have reached its end of life in a business environment, can still serve as a high quality PC. The refurbishment of old computer equipment offers environmental as well as social benefits as equipment that would otherwise be ‘retired’ or disposed of can be put to good use again. Around 126,000 tonnes of IT equipment is simply dumped in landfill sites annually; anything we can do to reduce this waste can bring dividends all round.”

Steve Bradford, The Governor of HMP The Mount comments: “We are delighted to have launched the first Computers4All refurbishment centre here. This is a scheme that looks set to bring huge benefits for prisoners participating in the training. Prisoners do not have access to the Internet or internal computer systems. However, this IT course will provide training in skills and disciplines that will have a real value for them as they re-enter the workplace. Ultimately the end result is that we are providing high quality equipment that can help disadvantaged groups in society who might otherwise be excluded from having computers and being able to access the internet.”

About Computers4All

Computers4All is a not for profit organisation whose main aim is to keep as many computers as possible from filling the landfills and to make quality refurbished computers available to disadvantaged communities, charities, and education establishments. Computers4all also develops training programmes to enable disadvantaged individuals to learn IT skills through refurbishing computers. Its objective is to make Computers available for all, enabling all sections of the community to have online access.

About Langdon

Langdon was founded in 1992 and offers support to vulnerable Jewish youth and adults with learning disabilities. It is driven by the belief that a person with learning disabilities has the right to quality education, a home of their own, a fulfilling career and a full social life just like everyone else. Langdon enables and facilitates independent living, and works with those that have the potential to live independently. Langdon’s online store is social enterprise giving people with learning disabilities the opportunity to gain valuable social and employability skills, as well as increase their confidence, in order to pave the way to paid employment.

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