About Donating
Laptops for All was launched to ensure that every child gets safe access to the internet so they can fulfil their educational potential. In a time of national crisis, the public, private and third sectors have come together to solve this problem.
Laptops for All was instigated by David Richards, founder of data software company WANdisco plc, and Nancy Fielder, editor of The Star newspaper in Sheffield.
Businesses, organisations and individuals have generously supported the campaign. We thank you for your continued support!
How we source donations
Laptops for all is appealing for new and used devices and publicises its work through the local, regional and national media.
Laptops for all launched a fundraising appeal to purchase internet-enabled dongles for the households in the North of England who need to get online.
We are urging individuals and businesses to donate their unwanted tech to the campaign. All data will be wiped and devices will be repurposed before being allocated to individuals and households by our partner organisations and charities. We are also inviting people to sponsor a laptop, allowing us to provide devices free of charge while continuing to cover all costs associated with the repair and refurbishment process.
We are working with a range of charities and organisations across Sheffield to help us identify those most in need of a device. We would be delighted to hear from you if you work with individuals and families who are digitally excluded and would benefit from a laptop to access learning opportunities and other essential online services such as communication, grocery shopping and healthcare. Our current partners include: Age UK, The Food Works and Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care.
If you are a parent or guardian who would like to apply for a laptop for a pupil, please ask the school to contact Learn Sheffield in order to discuss their overall requirements. Schools are also invited to contact Learn Sheffield in the first instance.
Sponsor a laptop
We are inviting individuals and businesses to sponsor a laptop for £60. Your generosity will mean that we will be able to provide laptops free of charge to recipients. They will be able to access educational courses, pay bills online, contact friends and family and much more which will make a real difference. Thank you!
Apply for a laptop
We are welcoming applications from charities and third sector organisations on behalf of individuals and families who do not currently have access to a device, dongle or data.
Donate a laptop
If you have a device that you no longer use and would like to donate this to the Laptops for All scheme, please complete our donations form in the first instance; it will help us to divert your device through the appropriate process. Once the team has taken a look at the specs of your device, if they meet the requirements for use by the programme, we will be in touch with drop-off information.
Donate or sponsor a laptop
What kind of devices do we accept?
We accept laptops or tablets with original chargers. Although we do our best to refurbish all devices in good working order, we would be grateful if you could check that your laptop or tablet meets our minimum specifications as outlined below:
At least Intel i3 Processor or AMD equivalent (iOS 13 if Apple device or android 8 if tablet)
At least 4GB RAM
At least 128GB disk
Good cosmetic condition, with no damage to ports, screen, case
At least 1 hour usable battery life
Original, working charger if available
How do I donate my device?
Please complete our donations form, providing as much information as possible. We will review the specifications and contact you with further details and where you can drop it off.
What happens to the device and personal information?
Each device is restored to its factory settings, all data is wiped clean and an operating system is reinstalled.
We are working with global data security company Blancco which has donated erasure licences in support of the campaign. Certification to prove the process has taken place can be provided on request. Blancco is the leading provider of data erasure software and mobile diagnostics solutions. Blancco data erasure solutions have been tested, certified, approved and recommended by 15+ governing bodies and leading organisations around the world. No other data erasure software can boast this level of compliance with the rigorous requirements set by government agencies, legal authorities and independent testing laboratories. If you'd like further details, please get in touch.
We only have old desktops, can we donate these?
We are not currently accepting donations of desktops or screens. However, we would like to encourage all businesses which might have larger batches of desktops coming to the end of their life to consider recycling these, with any residual funds being donated to support the campaign. Please get in touch to discuss this option further with us.
Do you accept cash donations?
We would be delighted if you would like to sponsor a laptop or make a cash donation. £60 would allow an individual who has applied for a device via the scheme to be provided with a laptop free of charge. Please visit our GoFundMe page to make your donation. Thank you for your support!
What does the £60 cover?
The £60 covers the cost of refurbishing the laptop, wiping all data and setting up ready for use with the appropriate software. This also helps to cover any additional repairs such as replacing a screen or purchasing a charger.
Apply for a laptop
Are you able to help connect recipients to the internet?
We also have dongles available and are delighted to be working with Vodafone's Charities Connected scheme, offering Pay as You Go SIMs (20GB data plus unlimited calls and texts each month for a period of six months) at no charge.
Who is eligible to apply for a laptop?
Charities and organisations can apply for a device for individuals and households who they have identified as:
Being without access to a device at home.
Requiring a device to complete activities such as paying bills, completing an educational course, accessing online communication channels and healthcare services or engaging in enterprise and entrepreneurship.
How can my organisation apply for laptops?
We invite organisations to complete our application form – we will then be back in touch with you as soon as possible.
Contact Us
Telephone - 0114 405 5123
Email - laptopsforkids@djrff.org
Post - Laptops for All - 11 Paradise Square, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield, S1 2DE
