A new initiative has been launched in Gateshead to tackle digital poverty and e-waste across the area by collecting used devices from residents, refurbishing them and redistributing them to individuals and families who need them most.

Called the Tech4Communities initiative and led by the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA), local people are being asked to donate unwanted and disused laptops, tablets and smartphones, at drop off points around Gateshead.  With around 33,000 (16 per cent) people in Gateshead living in one of the 10 per cent most deprived areas of England, as reported by the Gateshead Council, the Northeast of England is recognised as the most digitally deprived region of England.

Local Gateshead communities will benefit significantly from the refurbishment and redistribution of devices, with those receiving devices, either through referral from local community organisations or self-referral, being able to access key services such as education, welfare, health and employment. Not only will recipients benefit from the device itself but will also be provided resources to learn digital skills and media literacy.

Digital exclusion continues to impact an estimated 19 million people across the UK and while national strategies, such as the recently launched Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which aims to tackle digital poverty by 2030, help to drive progress at a national level, local initiatives are vital to bolster these wider goals and ensure that no one is left behind.

This project builds on the DPA’s experience running successful device donation schemes in other parts of the country.  National research indicates there are more than 55 million unused mobile phones in UK homes, with 16 per cent of households admitting they hold onto technology despite being unlikely to use these devices again. This is largely due to 44 per cent of households being unaware of how to get rid of devices in a way that minimises environmental impact.

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “Digital exclusion is one of the defining inequalities of our time and it’s unacceptable that so many people are locked out of opportunities and access to essential services simply because they don’t have access to a device.

Through this project in Gateshead, we’re not only helping to close the digital divide but also tackling the growing issue of e-waste. By working hand-in-hand with local communities, we can ensure that unused technology is put to powerful use, connecting people to education, employment, healthcare and more to create long-term, lasting and meaningful change.”

The work is part of a proven delivery model developed by the DPA through initiatives such as Tech4Families and Tech4Youth, programmes that continue to demonstrate how secure, scalable device redistribution can be delivered with lasting local impact.