Redbridge donates 1,000 laptops to help London's digitally excluded

Redbridge Council has donated 1,000 laptops as part of a groundbreaking scheme to help Londoners without internet or digital access.

The Mayor and London Councils are working with digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation and partners in the public and private sector to transform digital access in the city, a major concern identified by Londoners during the pandemic.

Get Online London was launched last June as part of the Mayor and London Councils’ digital Access for All drive to ensure all Londoners can access digital skills and devices. In that time, the scheme has delivered free digital skills training to more than 10,000 Londoners and distributed nearly 2,000 laptops and mobiles and over 25,000 sim cards to help digitally excluded Londoners access the internet.

Redbridge Council is donating laptops that are no longer in circulation, and they will be wiped, checked and refurbished. Get Online London members can then apply for them based on need, which will be alongside other donations of devices from other organisations.

An estimated 270,000 Londoners have no internet or digital access, with a further two million having very limited use - for example, those without their own device to get online or those who can get online but need help accessing online forms or internet banking.

 Cllr Helen Coomb, Cabinet Member for Transformation & Digital, said: "We're delighted to provide these laptops to this fantastic scheme and be recognised as a significant donor. It is vital that digitally excluded Londoners get the proper training and technology.

"Nearly everything you do these days require access to the internet. Whether paying your bills and rent, applying for a job, booking a health appointment, or finding out about local schools, a basic knowledge of digital technology is crucial. This scheme is an enormous help to digitally excluded people and will help them learn, develop and improve their lives."

Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: "Access to technology is more critical now than ever before to develop IT skills for education and employability and to connect with the world around us. This donation of 1,000 laptops will help transform lives, empowering people who have been digitally excluded to access the technology so many of us take for granted.

"It is vital that to supplement the efforts of local authorities; the government provide funding for digital training to help level up the playing field and address digital inequalities. This support would help some of London's most vulnerable people fulfil their potential."

There are 326 members of Get Online London across 32 boroughs. It comprises charities, community centres, libraries, housing associations, and insecurely housed food banks. Organisations support a variety of vulnerable people, including people in poverty, unemployed, older people, and people with disabilities. Membership is free, and they are also encouraging more charities and communities to join and benefit those who identify and work with digitally excluded people.