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In its bid to tackle digital exclusion, Big Issue has partnered with Lenovo to provide charities and social enterprises with free, high-quality laptops to help in their work.
Initially, Big Issue Invest – the social investment arm of the charity famous for its magazine sold by vendors who are homeless or vulnerably housed – has made 50 refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad laptops available.
These will fight digital exclusion by helping communities get online and make better use of digital services, such as learning portals.
“This technology will open up opportunities for [recipients] in a number of ways,” said Russell Blackman, Managing Director at Big Issue, “from helping their staff expand their reach, to giving their beneficiaries access to the digital world which so many people living in poverty are locked out of.”
“Technology is only truly transformative when access is equal, and we all have a part to play in making that a reality,” said Aidan Griffin, Solutions and Services Group leader at Lenovo UK & Ireland.
“Through our partnership with the Big Issue, refurbished laptops are reaching inspirational organisations across the UK, delivering practical tools while advancing sustainability and digital equity.
“This initiative is an important step in tackling digital exclusion, aiming to inspire collaboration that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and creates lasting pathways to opportunity.”
Doing What Really Matters (DWRM), which helps support people in prison to study and gain qualifications, is one of the scheme’s first beneficiaries.
“Thanks to a generous donation from Lenovo, we are able to provide laptop loans and digital skills support so that people can continue studying and look for work when they come out,” said Ruth McFarlane, Co-Director of DWRM.
“Having their own laptop to work on means students can continue their studies and prepare for work once they are released,” she added. “They can then progress to become mentors with DWRM thus providing a continuous cycle of support.”
Other recipients of these initial devices are a charity fighting digital poverty in Greater Manchester and a London-based filmmaker with an outreach programme for young people to learn about film.
Big Issue Invest currently supports more than 140 businesses, who in turn provide life-changing services and support for almost 2 million people in the UK.
