ILKLEY volunteers are offering to take donations of unwanted digital devices -such as laptops and tablets - from local households and businesses, by January 17, for wiping and redistribution to those who will benefit instantly from digital access.

Local charity Climate Action Ilkley is working with Digital Access West Yorkshire (DAWY) to help connect communities and families across Leeds and Bradford.

Local residents and organisations are encouraged to have a clear-out of unneeded devices, which they are offering to collect and deliver to DAWY in a Covid-aware way. They in turn will wipe, reset, clean and distribute the goods to a recipient referred to either themselves or their Bradford-based partners Solidaritech by a local community organisation or school.

Requested devices (including charging cables and leads) are tablets, laptops, PCs and mobile phones which are less than five years old and still in working order. Donations should be put into a bag or box, with chargers attached or bagged with the relevant device. Individual Covid-safe collections can be arranged by emailing techcollection@climateactionilkley.org.uk as soon as possible.

No personal data will remain on any devices that are distributed. If donors prefer, they can wipe their own machine before donating it, following the guidelines at www.accesswy.org. In particular iTunes accounts should be removed from any Apple devices.

Climate Action Ilkley member and local resident Ruth McBain, who is co-ordinating the collection, said: “With the latest lockdown, we continue to see divisions widening across our society, including those caused by a lack of access to technology. The difference in access to online schooling is so variable across our region. I’m sure many of us have unwanted devices in our homes and offices, especially after Christmas, which could now be professionally cleaned and repurposed, enabling someone nearby to access their schooling or work from home. It will also keep valuable natural resources out of landfill, so it’s a win-win.”

DAWY co-founder Gael Timbers added: “The majority of children are now reliant on online education. From joining video-conference classrooms, through to leveraging online educational content from BBC Bitesize and others, without access to a computer, many children are missing out. We have also seen over the past year just how reliant we are on technology for other aspects of our lives, from ordering shopping online through to video calls with colleagues and loved ones. Please help us to support children and families across the region by addressing inequalities and a digital divide, making sure that more people can connect during this difficult time.”

If anyone wishes to volunteer to co-ordinate similar collections elsewhere in Wharfedale, contact Digital Access West Yorkshire directly or co-ordinate with Ruth by emailing techcollection@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

If you don’t have a device to give, you can also donate to DAWY via their website www.accesswy.org

For more information about Climate Action Ilkley visit climateactionilkley.org.uk/