News & Star, 24 September 2011
A Carlisle school – which moved into a new building in September – has donated some of its old computers to a disability charity as part of an IT recycling project.
Disability Association Carlisle and Eden (DaCE), based at Kingstown in Carlisle, has taken delivery of the old computers from the Richard Rose Morton Academy.
RRMA moved into a brand new building on Wigton Road when the school term began earlier this month.
John Marshall, deputy head at RRMA, said: "We are really pleased that we have been able to reuse and recycle our old computers.
"It would have been uneconomical for us to move electrical equipment, which is nearing the end of its life, from one building to another.
"We are delighted that DaCE can put the computers to good use. We didn’t really know what to do with the old equipment and we may have had to send it to landfill.”
IT technicians at DaCE strip the computers of all their data. They then put a computer programme, like Windows, onto the machine and a new licence.
When finished the computers are sold to people with disabilities, organisations and low income families. A new computer can be bought for about £75.
Duncan Souter, training officer with DaCE:IT, said: "We are really pleased to get these computers.”
Becky Murray, development officer with DaCE, said: "The computers make a huge difference to us. It benefits the community and its sustainable too.
"The cost can vary but it’s generally from about £75. The computers come with a three-month warranty and anti-virus software.
"It’s a great bit of partnership working.”
The income generated through DaCE:IT & Training Operations helps towards funding other DaCE projects in Cumbria. The IT recycling project also provides employment and volunteering opportunities for local disabled people.
An open day was held at DaCE’s Port Road Industrial Estate base yesterday where disabled people could find out more about groups and sessions open to them.
Organisations taking part included the Sands Centre, Carlisle City Council, Morton Community Centre, Prism Arts and Wheels For All.
Becky said: "It was a very informative event to enhance people’s independence. We wanted to hold it before the nights got too dark so that people got the information and advice they need before the winter sets in.”
- DaCE:IT runs courses to help people learn about the internet and digital world. October 31 to November 4 is Get Online Week. This national initiative aims to reduce the number of adults who don’t understand the digital world by offering supported internet access.
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