A BIG-HEARTED Burntwood business is turning unwanted computer equipment into essential office tools for local charities and good causes after taking inspiration from Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire programme.
IMPlog, which provides IT products, support and services, is offering to take away unwanted equipment from offices free of charge, carry out the work necessary for it to be reused and then donate it to a worthy cause in the vicinity.
The first equipment has already been donated to the Norton Canes Community Partnership.
The charity, which provides a range of services to the local community, including help with finding funding and training for smaller groups, has received a computer.
Jean Dyde, community liaison support officer for the partnership, said it has proven invaluable in the NCCP office.
“The internet is a great way for us to find out about things like grants and funding which is available to the groups we work with, so the computer is a great help,” she said.
Richard Jennings, of IMPlog, said the service benefits both the donator, who will have their redundant computers and equipment removed without any cost to them, and the recipient, who has the equivalent of hundreds - perhaps thousands - of pounds of free equipment to help run their organisation more effectively.
“The idea was sparked by the TV series Secret Millionaire, where rich businessmen go undercover in communities to find good causes who would really benefit from some unexpected extra funds.
“A new series of the programme began last week, and the first thing one of the charities asked for was a PC, so it looks as though our idea should prove a hit!
“After watching the first series last year, I began to think about how many good causes there are right on our doorstep, and how much they would benefit from equipment which is literally sitting around in offices and clogging up space.
“As part of new Government directives introduced in July, firms now have a legal obligation to properly dispose of unwanted computer equipment, to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
“As software technology is constantly updated, companies need to renew equipment to keep up with it. Their old computers might then seem obsolete in their terms, but with our help, we can turn them into something really useful for others.
“The service benefits are two-fold – it is a green way of disposing of unwanted equipment, and really gives something back to some very worthy causes.”
IMPlog will ‘clean-up’ any equipment donated, clearing information from hard drives so there is no risk of comprising the firm which has donated it, and then add software which makes it ready for use by the charity or good cause it is going to.
“The service is open to firms and organisations within a 15 mile radius of Burntwood, which is the area we serve, as we want to ensure it helps local people,” added Mr Jennings.
He is now keen to hear from any companies with computing equipment to donate – and stresses that it must be in working order - and from good causes who would benefit from IT kit.
Anyone interested in finding out more please visit www.implog.com/imp/recyleit.htm or call 01543 450220 weekdays.
[Helen]
Hi
It's great for the companies, charities and people of Burntwood - nice one.
PS You might like to know that the link to www.implog.com/imp/recyleit.htm ends in '404 Not Found'.
Posted by: weee | November 16, 2007 at 11:49 AM