A former child refugee has partnered with Sadiq Khan to give away hundreds of laptops and computers including Apple Macs to help the most vulnerable after the first lockdown "rammed home" the mental health effects of digital exclusion.
The move comes after Peter Paduh, 43, who now lives in Camden, encouraged the Mayor and the head of GLA’s IT department to give away their unused gadgets and back his ‘Laptops for the homeless and vulnerable' Initiative.
The scheme, which started under his organisation, the SocialBox.Biz, has already delivered 1,000 unused laptops to charities across the country including the British Red Cross.
One recipient includes, Madhane, 38, who fled Eritrea after he was forced to serve in the military and when Covid-19 hit the UK, forcing the country into lockdown, he was “stuck" in a room in temporary emergency accommodation with no internet access.
But several weeks into lockdown, SocialBox.Biz, delivered a reconditioned laptop to his hostel allowing him to keep in contact with his family in Eritrea to avoid loneliness and stay up to date with the government guidelines.
According to a recent study by New Horizon Youth Centre, at least 78% of their homeless clients have no access to laptops or tablets, or consistent internet access.
While Age UK state that more than half (51%) of digitally excluded people are over the age of 65.
Mr Paduh, who himself arrived in the UK from the “war-torn” Balkans aged 15 has often attributed much of his success to the computer he was given soon after he was placed in foster care.
He said: "We take for granted for our laptops, tablets and smartphones to stay connected with loved ones during the pandemic.
"Instead of scrapping old technology and shipping it around the world, we could be reducing our carbon footprint and eradicating digital exclusion at the same time. Hopefully others will take the lead of the Mayor of London and start to re-think their IT procurement policies too.”
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The Social Box has so far received 200 desktops and 200 screen items from GLA and have already distributed sets to the Single homelessness Project and plan on delivering to more Age UK centres.
Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer at GLA, said: “Access to a PC or device to get online for those who can’t afford one is a very real need for many vulnerable Londoners, especially during the pandemic. I’m pleased that City Hall can support SocialBox.Biz’s work in this area whilst also reducing our electronic waste.”
