As Refugee Week marks its 25th anniversary, SocialBox.Biz, a UK-based social enterprise, is appealing for support from businesses. The organisation takes unwanted tech and re-homes it for those in need. The week-long celebration of refugees’ contributions, creativity, resilience and courage has a theme of ‘compassion in action’ that has been central to SocialBox.Biz’s mission.
By donating unused tech devices on an ongoing basis, companies can help bridge the digital divide and provide access to technology and communication to those most in need. Since 2014, SocialBox.Biz has been providing rehomed laptops and other tech devices to organisations and individuals working with refugees, homeless people, and older people who cannot afford computers.
“We are the only Community Interest Company re-homing old but usable tech from companies, universities, and other large organisations and placing them in the hands of the disadvantaged in local UK communities in this way,” said SocialBox.Biz Social Impact spokesperson, Carolyn Williams. “We provide on-site data removal service and load the technology with open-source software, solving common problems for IT teams and social impact problems for our clients. We’ve done a lot, but we will do a lot more with the help of more partners.”
SocialBoxBiz’s founder and Chairman, Peter Paduh, a former child refugee, commented: “My life changed when I was donated an old computer to support my education and transition into British society. A simple laptop opened up a whole new world for me, one where I could integrate into society by applying for jobs, and researching people and places to help me reach my goals. Without a laptop, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I’ve done.”
Purpose-driven UK communications agency Ethical Team is one such company that has provided desktop computers, monitors and a printer to SocialBoxBiz. Iain Patton, Managing Director and Founder said: “As a business, we try and ‘walk the talk’, and recycling isn’t always the best option. Much equipment can be repurposed, and I am sure if more companies and organisations were aware of SocialBox.Biz, they would support this initiative.”
To date, SocialBox.Biz has repurposed 1000’s of machines and hope to reach up to 1000 per month in the near future.
As Refugee Week draws attention to refugees, SocialBox.Biz is appealing for donations of old laptops and other tech devices in order to help bridge the digital divide. The initiative, founded by former child refugee Peter Paduh, has been providing rehomed laptops to those in need since 2014, with the support of purpose-driven UK communications agency Ethical Team. Reuse is better than recycled as it produces social impact and reduces scope 3 emissions, and SocialBox.Biz is working towards larger donation milestones.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.