Digital Inclusion

As services such as health and jobcentres increasingly move online, it becomes even more difficult for our community to access the vital services they need to move out of homelessness.

That’s why we’re asking for donations of your old but working laptops and tablets.

With your donated tablet or laptop, our clients can access vital healthcare and benefit services, apply for jobs and accommodation, take online educational and recovery courses, and maintain the contact with family and friends that’s so important to mental health and wellbeing. Without digital access, all these things become increasingly harder to achieve

If you, or someone you know, has a new laptop or tablet we are offering to take your old, working, device and pass it to one of our clients.

Equipment should preferably be no older than 4 years and you must have physically applied a factory reset and wiped the hard drive. Items can be dropped off at our Donations Unit.

Please ensure your donated laptop or tablet:
• has had a factory reset applied
• has had the hard drive wiped and
• is in working order.

Address: Unit 1, Thesiger Close, Worthing, BN11 2RN

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am – 12:30

CONTACT DONATIONS CO-ORDINATOR

Phone: 01903 680740 Ext: 248
Mobile: 07703 836015

Email: Donations@turning-tides.org.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What digital items would you like donated?

Laptops and tablets that are in working order and no more than 4 year old. We cannot accept broken, non-operational laptops or tablets.

What should I do before I donate my laptop/tablet to ensure the security of my information?

Please ensure you apply a factory reset and wipe the hard drive prior to donating your tablet or laptop.

There is an informative Which guide explaining how you can do this, or guidance can usually be found on the manufacturers web site.

Where should I take my donated items?

Please take them to Turning Tides, Unit 1, Thesiger Close, Worthing BN11 2RN.

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am-12.30. Please contact our donations co-ordinator on 01903 680740 Ext: 248 or 07703 836015 for any queries.

Do you need all the cables my tablet/laptop came with?

Yes. Please include any cables, chargers etc. that came with the tablet/laptop if you still have them.

What if I don’t have the charger or cables the equipment came with?

We are not able to accept a device without a working charger.

Do you need monitor screens donated too?

We can use working monitor screens that are less than 4 years old for some of our clients so we will accept donations of monitors. However, the greatest need is for tablets and laptops.

What will you do with my donated laptop/tablet?

Once we have received your donated item it will be given to a technical member of staff who will check data and software has been wiped. They will then install Linux, an open source operating system.

The item will then be given to one of our clients to own. They will then be responsible for that item as it will be considered theirs.

Along with providing a device, clients will be supported to build their digital confidence and skills so they are able to fully explore and use their device to its fullest potential.

What if my device is subsequently used inappropriately?

Turning Tides will not be liable/responsible for the future use of the laptop/tablet in the unlikely event that a donated laptop or tablet is subsequently misused.

All donors are required to have wiped their data completely and applied a factory reset to the device before donating the item.

Other Ways To make a difference

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If you are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, we are here to support you. Please visit our help section for advice, information and support from Turning Tides and other local services.

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