An appeal has been made for unused laptops to be donated in a bid to help children who otherwise would not have access to the internet. Here at Penarth View, we spoke to David Jakeway, the current President of the Rotary Club of Barry, about the appeal. 

David said: ‘It’s a very simple one in concept, it’s asking people who have got preloved laptops and desktops lying about the house, which most of us have, if they’re happy to donate them to the Laptop For Learning appeal which is run by the Rotary Clubs in South Wales. We have our own tech company here who know the standards that the laptop needs to be refurbished too, so they do that and then they’re distributed to the schools for pupils who don’t have access to laptops in school.’

‘Mainly we are looking for laptops of Window 7 or above, or Mac books or the like. We will arrange for someone to come out and collect it. We will do all the graft, all you have to do is sit at home and wait for the knock at the door. 

When we do collect the laptops, the donator is asked to sign a form stating what they would like to do with the hardrive, have it returned or wiped. They’re either given back to the donator or destroyed, in all instances they are wiped by an accredited IT company. 

We’re very grateful for donations’ and the more the better! We still need more, we’re not scratching the surface. COVID highlighted certain deficiencies, prior to going into lockdown I think everybody thought that everyone could access the internet, the truth of the matter is that turned out not to be the case, COVID highlighted that.’

Donations have already been pouring in, with members from Barry and Cardiff Rotary having handed over ten refurbished laptops to staff at Pencoedtre School in Barry.

To donate a laptop or desktop, email davidjakeway@outlook.com or call Barry Rotary on 07533048620.