Help needed! Charity IT - internet and older people - free stuff!

Levensno7

Hi all,

I have regularly used this site over the last few years and thought that the wise heads here could help me with a new ‘internet for older people’ project we are launching at my charity in Gloucestershire.

This project aims to introduce older people to computers and help them gain access to basic services and all the benefits the internet can bring, including this site!

We have a limited budget and are working using volunteers out and about in rural areas so i am looking to approach a mobile company (Orange, 3 mobile etc.) to possibly donate one or two mobile internet dongles or mifi devices to use. Who should I approach for this? I don’t have any high level contacts and so I’m not too hopeful of responses if I approach customer services!
Any and all help is much appreciated.



Thanks


Tom

oldtoolie

Rather than spending days scrounging around for something that would only be worth a few hundred pounds per year, I recommend looking for more substantial funding.

Try Awards for All https://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/

diable

You may also need to enlist in some mentors.

Logie143

If you really wanted to do this, and it shouldn't be too much scrounging around, as long as you have a charity reg number, then try ringing the company.

Different companies will call it different things- external comms team is a fairly regular one, if not just the communications team and they will put you through to someone who will help.

Then just simply ask, be straight forward, they will have a certain budget for charities and giveaways. Just make sure you can offer them something- a bit of advertising, maybe a thank you on yourwebsite or something similar.
Good luck!

Chris4

Hi Levensno7,

I'm in a very similar situation. I'm a Computer Science student and I approached a charity who needed I.T. volunteers because they wanted to do the exact same as you, teach computer basics to the elderly.

It's very easy to apply for grants and not only did they raise enough money for a dongle, but also enough to purchase multiple laptops to lend to members. The local council and the BBC both allow free usage of computer training rooms.

Take a look at becoming a UK Online Centre here, where you can apply for grants of up to £1000.

Once you become a UK Online Centre, you have access further branches to get funding, such as setting up a community website with Talk About Local.

Good luck,

Chris