Donated laptops can help more than 1,000 homeless people

London UK -- A social enterprise is appealing to the public and businesses to donate their old laptop computers so that they can be refurbished and given to people who have experienced homelessness.

The aim is to collect 1,000 laptops by 2020, which will be distributed by homelessness charity Thames Reach to the people using its services with the aim of helping them get their lives back on track and do the things we all take for granted – such as apply for jobs online and keep in touch with family and friends.

The appeal is being made by the Laptops for Homeless People initiative run by SocialBox.biz, a London based social enterprise that donates IT equipment to benefit people’s lives.

https://www.socialbox.biz/homeless-support/

The initiative has already donated 150 refurbished laptops to Thames Reach.

SocialBox.Biz’s Peter Paduh said: “It’s about bettering our communities and societies by taking the laptops some view as no longer needed and giving them to the people who need them the most.”

Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, said: “These laptops will give the homeless and marginalised people who receive them the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and access advice to improve their skills and employment prospects.”

Yussuf Omar, who experienced homelessness, but is now housed and learning about computers at IT sessions run at Thames Reach’s Employment Academy in the London Borough of Southwark, is one of the laptop recipients. He said: “I’ve never had a computer before, so getting a laptop has been great for me, helping me with my personal development.”

To donate laptops visit https://www.socialbox.biz/contact-us/

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Please also Re-Tweet to support Laptops for Homeless People Initiative from;

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Notes for Editors

For more information on SocialBox.Biz’s impact on local communities, visit www.socialbox.biz

Thames Reach is one of the UK’s leading homelessness charities. Its vision is to end street homelessness and its mission is to provide decent homes, encourage supportive relationships and help people lead fulfilling lives.

Thames Reach runs a range of services in London including street outreach services helping people sleeping rough escape homelessness, a variety of hostels and supported housing projects, and schemes which prevent homelessness and help people develop new skills, re-engage with family and friends, and get back into work.

It runs the Employment academy in Camberwell which helps unemployed and economically disadvantaged people find work. http://www.employmentacademy.org.uk

Thames Reach works closely with local communities to ensure that it contributes to improving neighbourhoods and meeting local need. See www.thamesreach.org.uk

For further details contact Thames Reach communications manager, Mike Nicholas, on 07816 113420 or 0203 664 9562