FreeIT - Stafford.

FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
Hearts and Hands have been a huge help to us in the last few weeks, enabling us to reach some really needy families through their own client base.
We're hearing some harrowing stories, and wherever we are needed, we vow to step up. We want to help everyone and we are determined to tackle digital deprivation in society, even if that means one family at a time.
Today we've gifted two Windows laptops and a tablet PC to Hearts and Hands headquarters, which they'd requested to pass on to one of many families they are supporting, who are in dire circumstances and struggling to access their online learning and family interests.
These are all devices which were donated by you lovely people and refurbished by our team of voluntary tech guys, and we're super grateful to be given the honour of lifting some weight from this family's shoulders.
On the right is freeIT tech guy Jack (the photogenic one of the bunch) handing over the equipment to Owen from Hearts and Hands (left).

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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
A few of you have pointed out that Staffs County Council / Community Foundation Staffs are now advertising a very similar scheme to ours.
Far from seeing this as "competition" as has been suggested, we don't begrudge anyone wanting to achieve the same outcomes as we do. It is, however, a little frustrating that they opted to plug their own new scheme in Stafford instead of supporting and promoting ours, since we'd actually asked CFS for help back in January.
We would like to note a few differences.
-We don't expect you to sanitise or erase your device in advance
-We don't have a lengthy legal disclaimer or application form for donors to sign
-We'll accept broken devices and solitary parts
-You'll get to see where your donations are going
-We don't ask you to make an appointment to drop off items, and we'll even collect from you in many situations
-We don't waste public money promoting our cause by using "sponsored ads" and fancy video clips.
 
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
We've delivered a further 4 devices to a primary school today, so for an update, freeIT can now boast 104 refurbished internet ready devices placed in 10 primary schools in our area to help home schooling families during self-isolation (or to gift to families permanently, or use in school), since we took our first donation on 12th January.
This is made up of:
-77 laptops / netbooks / macbooks
-7 desktops / all-in-ones
-20 tablets / ipads
Which are now in use (some respectfully wished to remain anonymous) at:
-St. Leonards (Dunston) - 13 devices
-All Saints (Ranton) - 11 devices
-Church Eaton CE- 14 devices
-St. Peters (Hixon) - 10 devices
-Burton Manor - 14 devices
-Doxey Primary - 9 devices
-Tillington Manor - 13 devices
-Anon 1 ST17 - 8 devices
-Anon 2 ST17 - 5 devices
-Anon 3 ST17 - 7 devices
These are all devices donated by you lovely people and refurbished by our team of tech guys for free
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
WE'RE EXPANDING!
We are receiving requests for help, and offers of donated kit, from as far as London (and that's not an exaggeration!).
We obviously can't honour that, but we do want to try and expand a little into the surrounding towns, as we are receiving several offers of equipment from just outside Stafford.
We'd like to set up equipment donation points in Stone, Penkridge, Gnosall and Cannock. This will involve allowing the public to drop items at your venue, then storing equipment for us until one of us can collect, which we're doing from our donation points in Stafford around twice a week. (We can't accept equipment donations at our Dunston address)
Are you a social hub or business in those areas with a spare corner or cupboard which we can liberate?
Please drop us a line, and please share this post wherever you think it needs to be
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
Through Hearts and Hands, and with the help of your donations, we've been able to fix up this very broken jazzy pink Samsung laptop and give it in perfect restored condition to a young lady who is struggling with schooling.
Here's so-called "tech guy" Neil being beaten by a simple laptop bag clip.

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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
Today we've installed another 4 desktop PC's at
The Den 101
.
These have joined the other 7 that we've already placed in their internet cafe / homework space.
Thanks again to
Midland VW
for sponsoring our parts costs for this installation, and to you lovely people for donating these unwanted tower units, monitors, keyboards and mice, which have been refurbished by our team of tech guys for free
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
All of us here at freeIT would like to pass our warmest thanks to
The Barber's Shop
for their incredible financial contribution to our running costs, this will make a huge difference and allow us to help several more families which we'd have struggled to do so otherwise.
We are very grateful
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Please give their facebook page a like!
We haven't got much to offer in return except a bit of interworld publicity, but if your business would like to be involved with our cause please call us on 01785 531199
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
We are huge fans of the work that
Hearts & Hands Stafford
do in our community, so when we hear stories of their clients and volunteers who are struggling to get online, we'll step up to the plate and do our bit for them.
We've delivered some more kit to their new headquarters today, which they can now repurpose where it's needed most
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Here's freeIT tech guy Jack (with his new lowered ears) handing our donation to Scarlet from H&H
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FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
Sadly, we've today discovered that our application for a bank account has been refused, without reason, and without appeal.
This is a frustrating setback given that we'd submitted everything asked of us, and our accounts are well documented and in good standing.

It means that there will now be more delays for us in our mission to secure mainstream funding while we seek other account vendors. A bank account in our organisation's name is a pre-requisite for funding applications.

So we're asking two things of you lovely people.

1- If you know of an independent bank will help unincorporated associations, or a mainstream bank that you can recommend that you may already be working with as an unincorporated association, please let us know. We don't have a charity number, but we do have trustees and a constitution document.
2- If you can spare a little to help us on our way, we would be extremely grateful. Our secure crowd funder details are below.

We are disappointed, but not defeated.

Help us with one-off costs:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/freeitstafford
Help us with running costs (become a patron):
www.liberapay.com/freeitstafford
Make a donation of your choice:
www.paypal.me/freeitstafford
Buy us a brew just because:
www.ko-fi.com/freeitstafford
Thanks again from Neil, Tim, Ollie, Jack, Brett and Craig
 
FreeITstafford

FreeITstafford

Well-Known Forumite
That's another 5 of your unwanted desktop PC's and all their related bits and bobs installed at The Den 101. Thanks to your kind donations we've now equipped their computer room with 16 internet ready machines for free, and there are still desks to fill and cables to tidy
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Thank you all for allowing us to tackle digital poverty and e-waste in this way, which will benefit countless families.
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