Can you briefly introduce your organisation and the work you do? What are your main values, and how does sustainability fit into your mission?
Power2Connect are primarily a digital inclusion charity based in Wandsworth, with a mission to bridge the digital divide ensuring everyone has equal access to technology, digital skills, digital confidence and connectivity so that they are able to thrive in an ever-growing digital world.
Sustainability fits into our mission mainly through access to devices. We collect used laptops, tablets and smart phones from local residences and businesses and bring them to ROSE community centre where our team of IT volunteers who will wipe and refurbish the devices which will get redistributed back out into the Wandsworth community. We work with Schools, food banks, citizens advice and lots of community groups who will identify people who need a laptop and are not able to access them themselves.
How do you involve staff, volunteers, or service users in your sustainability efforts?
We have different volunteers at Power2Connect, we have IT volunteers who are key with helping us to wipe and repurpose devices so that they can be redistributed back into the Wandsworth community.
We also have transport volunteers who will go across the borough collecting unused devices from our drop off points and they will also deliver the devices to schools and community groups who pass them on to people to keep and use. All of our volunteers are very big on Power2Connect and spreading the word, if anyone mentions that they have a smart phone at home laying around they suggest that they consider donating the device to Power2Connect.
Service users at our digital drop ins share the work that Power2Connect are doing and they also share about our device recycling and repurposing program which allows people who hear about the drop-in sessions so they can drop in their unused devices here.
How does your sustainability work support the local Wandsworth community?
People want to help their local community and Power2Connect offers a place to do that in terms of people being able to donate their devices to local people. To date we have collected 4,500 devices, we have refurbished and redistributed 4,200 in the local borough to local schools and organisations.
We work with over 150 referral partners (schools, community groups across the borough and Wandsworth food bank) across the borough to give out these devices completely free. More devices given to Power2Connect also mean less devices that will end up in local landfills.
Have you seen any tangible results or improvements from your sustainability efforts?
We’ve had donated over 4,500 and we have distributed over 4,200 we have carried out surveys to our partners and parents have reported increase in grades and have seen an increase in motivation towards home learning and an increase in health and wellbeing with their families. These devices help the whole family, and we hear lots of lovely stories from our partners and residents who have received devices.
What lessons have you learned that other organisations could benefit from?
When it comes to sustainability it’s about thinking of how to make it as easy as possible for someone. Power2Connect have made it easy for people to be able to safely and securely drop off your own device which will get given back out to the local community to have a second life that will help others.
How can people in Wandsworth support your sustainability efforts?
You can donate your devices using the website, there are multiple drop off points across Wandsworth, you can volunteer your time, and you can donate financially. There are many ways to support.
To donate, volunteer and to learn more please visit Power2Connect’s website here.