New Year appeal to support Wiltshire's digitally excluded
Wiltshire Digital Drive is asking us to donate old tech if we got new devices for Christmas
A Wiltshire-based non-profit organisation is seeking to help hundreds of the county's digitally excluded in the New Year.
Wiltshire Digital Drive (WDD) is asking for anyone who received a new tech device for Christmas to donate their old one to transform the life of a struggling person.
WDD is holding a donation day across the county on Friday 10th January 2025.
The organisation refurbishes pre-loved tablets and laptops to give them a second life in the hands of a person in need of connectivity.
Chief Executive Natalie Luckham told us there are many reasons why someone may be disconnected.
She said: "It's a staggering statistic that something like 19 million people in the UK are suffering from some form of digital exclusion.
"That might be Wi-Fi connectivity issues, it could be skills and how do people use the tech for a start or access digital and online services.
"And then the third part is actually having access to a device."
A House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report into digital exclusion, published in January 2024, predicted that basic digital skills is set to become the largest skill gap in the UK by 2030.
Natalie added that many of us take accessing a digital device for granted, but with living costs rising, it's becoming harder for those struggling to get online - something the House of Lords report agrees with.
The report argues that the cost-of-living crisis is making a 'bad situation worse'.
In 2024, over 500 devices were collected by the organisation, ready to support Wiltshire's most in need and get them connected to the services we use on a daily basis.