FreeIT - Stafford.

[FreeITstafford]

This coming week we will be mostly changing 6 more lives

 

[FreeITstafford]

PLEASE! PLEASE!
If you are donating a tablet or phone to us or anywhere else, please ensure you have "unlinked" or "forgotten" or "disowned" your device from your list of current devices in your cloud account.
This might be through your iCloud, Samsung Cloud, or Google account dashboard.
We're receiving a number of useful, modern tablets, but without this setting being changed by the previous owner, it's stuck at authorisation, making it impossible to set the device up for anyone else.

 

[FreeITstafford]

We're chuffed to support the Stoke Parental Engagement Group.
We've provided them with 2 desktop PC's and 6 laptops since September last year, which have now been reallocated to individuals and families in digital poverty.

We couldn't do any of this without you all

 

[FreeITstafford]

Note:
We only count our numbers based on 'internet-ready' items such as a desktop tower unit or laptop, and only those which we've successfully fixed up and rehomed, creating a new opportunity.
We don't count the monitors, keyboards, speaker sets and other odds and ends, or anything we've used as a parts donor.
After all that, and another busy week at Free I.T. HQ, we've now reached 1017

 

[FreeITstafford]

Microsoft have always held this card to play and we sort of knew it was an unavoidable eventuality.
Roughly 40-50% of our throughput has relied on reusing an existing, pre-paid windows 7 licence.
This decision has huge implications on charitable refurbishers, and will encourage more e-waste.
There's no mention of any concession or extension for recyclers.
If you're already activated using a windows 7 key you'll be fine, this affects new installations only.
We'll buy a new licence for each one if we have to, but it's another cost we now have to take in to account.
We can't do any of this without your support.
www.paypal.me/freeitstafford

 

[FreeITstafford]

If we can generate just two more sponsorships at £15 per month, in a year's time we'll reach the financial threshold required to register as a proper UK charity.
#sponsorus #registeredcharity #charitycommission

 

[FreeITstafford]

We're chuffed to announce The Little George as our newest mission partner
They're taking equipment donations on our behalf

 

[FreeITstafford]

Another 8 lives changed this week through referrals from our friends at:
-Staffs County Council children & families service
-Jobs22
-Staffs Chambers of Commerce 'Positive Pathways' team
-Newcastle & Stafford College Group

#changinglives #bettertogether

 

[FreeITstafford]

So far this financial year our sponsors have helped us out with around £2500 of costs.
This includes:
-secure storage (£1000)
-stationery & cleaning disposables (£40)
-replacement laptop batteries (£180)
-replacement hard drives (£240)
-replacement laptop keyboards (£50)
-replacement laptop chargers (£40)
-trust bank account fees (£50)
-wifi adapters (£50)
-flyers (£40)
-a foldable trolley (£20)
-exhibition stand (£40)
and so much more in finicky bits and bobs.
We are extremely grateful, we can't do any of this without your support.
To be a part of our independent funding portfolio and put your company's name to our project to boast your support for a vital non-profit, please drop us a line.
More income means more throughput, better means of exposure, and ultimately more changed lives.

 

[FreeITstafford]

We've been informed that some of you may be emailing to our old virginmedia address, which was discontinued some time ago.
We had a forward, but it's stopped.
Strangely nothing bounces back, but we have no access to it.
Please update your records to freeitstafford@engineer.com and resend anything of importance that may have gone into the black hole.

 

[FreeITstafford]

A mark of respect to Tim The Tech Guy Brighton.
Not only does he sponsor our project from his earnings, he also gives up his spare time to volunteer for us and fix up all of our broken Apple gear.
We're currently taking up his entire work bench and he never complains, please show our Tim your love.

 

[FreeITstafford]

After another busy week here at Free I.T. HQ, we can now boast that we've changed a total of 1,031 lives since January 2021 with your help.

#youdidthis #youhelped

 

[FreeITstafford]

We're proud to be able to add Staffordshire Children's Hospital at Royal Stoke to the ever-growing list of great causes we've helped.

3 laptops and a desktop PC delivered today, to help kids get online for school during their stay in hospital.

#BetterTogether #greatcauses

 

[FreeITstafford]

Would you just look!
We've provided free equipment to all these amazing causes, and to individuals through their referrals.
We've given back 1036 of your unwanted internet-ready devices since January 2021

#donate #bettertogether #community #inclusion

 

[Glam]

Would you just look!
We've provided free equipment to all these amazing causes, and to individuals through their referrals.
We've given back 1036 of your unwanted internet-ready devices since January 2021

#donate #bettertogether #community #inclusion

View attachment 14702

I've heard on the Grapevine (Great Unwashed Jesus Looking Thing from the Back Bedroom) The Stone are having to stop one of the day shifts and all the night shifts for a bit, due to lack of products. Such a shame. A real shame.
I'm sorry for those that work there, but not the bosses.

 

[FreeITstafford]

 

[FreeITstafford]

Please could we politely remind our followers:
We're all volunteers here, with day jobs, families and other commitments.
We don't have any full time staff, or an office or workshop, we work on this project from our kitchens and dining rooms.
Techs to trustees and everyone in between, none of us are paid for what we do.
We can't always respond to emails, voicemails, facebook messages and other matters immediately.
In amongst medical hurdles, home schooling, working two jobs, living between two towns, and solo parenting, there are some unconventional circumstances in our team.
We're trying to help everyone and get around to things as quicky as possible but we still have to prioritise our actual lives.
Most common questions are answered on our website at www.freeitstafford.org
Please don't leave abuse, or sharp criticism of our time, on our voicemail or anywhere else, it's really not fair, and frankly a little demoralising.

 

[FreeITstafford]

We're finishing this week well on our way to 1100

- 630 Laptops, macbooks, Chromebooks
- 301 Desktop PC, iMac, AIO
- 135 Android tablets, iPads

#communityinclusion #doingourbit

 

[proactive]

View attachment 14767

Battle of Hastings.

 

[FreeITstafford]

Here's who we've helped with free equipment this week: