Orbit recycles hundreds of old computers to help tenants get online

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

Orbit Group is recycling hundreds of old computers to help tenants get online ahead of the government's imminent welfare reforms.

The 37,000-home housing association, based in the Midlands, East and South East, made the decision to donate the equipment, totalling approximately 450 desktop computers, following an organisation-wide IT upgrade throughout the summer of last year. Local community investment teams were then invited to put forward causes that would benefit from the equipment.

Following data cleansing, approximately 300 refurbished computers will be making their way to community projects across Orbit’s operating regions to support customers in developing their computer skills and to provide a source of online access – particularly important as upcoming welfare reforms such as Universal Credit rely on online self-servicing.

David Leach, director of technology and transformation, said: “We have a focus on digital inclusion for our residents and communities and with the upcoming welfare reform changes, providing access to online services will become even more of a priority.

“We’re delighted to be able to support communities, at home and abroad, get online and get connected through our refurbished IT equipment.”

It’s not just local communities that will benefit from the IT upgrade, 150 computers have been assigned to set up an ICT suite in a college in Kwapong, Ghana. The suite is not exclusively for college students, the pupils from six primary and four middle schools from around the region.