Chippenham Lions Club backs the Wiltshire Digital Drive initiative by collecting computer equipment Photo: Roger Stratton SCHOOLS, charities, voluntary organisations and individuals from across Wiltshire are set to benefit from a scheme to connect communities during the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown. Chippenham Lions have contributed 30 tablets, laptops and desktops to the Wiltshire Digital Drive initiative to provide equipment for children, individuals and organisations that need them. They will be refurbished by Wiltshire Digital Drive’s Westbury-based partner, Priority IT before being recycled and gifted back into the local community through the initiative. Lions Club president Martin Clancy said The Lions of North Wiltshire were pleased to be able to have contributed 30 devices with many of these coming from Chippenham Lions members and their friends.
Chippenham Lions Club backs the Wiltshire Digital Drive initiative by collecting computer equipment Photo: Roger Stratton SCHOOLS, charities, voluntary organisations and individuals from across Wiltshire are set to benefit from a scheme to connect communities during the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown. Chippenham Lions have contributed 30 tablets, laptops and desktops to the Wiltshire Digital Drive initiative to provide equipment for children, individuals and organisations that need them. They will be refurbished by Wiltshire Digital Drive’s Westbury-based partner, Priority IT before being recycled and gifted back into the local community through the initiative. Lions Club president Martin Clancy said The Lions of North Wiltshire were pleased to be able to have contributed 30 devices with many of these coming from Chippenham Lions members and their friends.
Wiltshire Digital Drive co-directors, Natalie Sherman with Kieran Thomas Wiltshire Digital Drive has already received nearly 500 digital device pledges thanks to BBC Radio Wiltshire and organisations across the county. Wiltshire Digital Drive is a charity which donates laptops and digital devices to low-income families to bridge the digital divide. Since forming in October last year, it has received exposure from the BBC Radio Wiltshire which led to 100 donation pledges in a single day. Co-director of Wiltshire Digital Drive, Natalie Sherman, thanked the radio station saying it has been a great advocate of Wiltshire Digital Drive’s work. Ms Sherman said: “Keiran Thomas, Priority IT MD and the Priority IT team and ourselves managed to get a lot of support in the Make a Difference campaign, which they started in the first lockdown.
Wiltshire Digital Drive co-directors, Natalie Sherman with Kieran Thomas Wiltshire Digital Drive has already received nearly 500 digital device pledges thanks to BBC Radio Wiltshire and organisations across the county. Wiltshire Digital Drive is a charity which donates laptops and digital devices to low-income families to bridge the digital divide. Since forming in October last year, it has received exposure from the BBC Radio Wiltshire which led to 100 donation pledges in a single day. Co-director of Wiltshire Digital Drive, Natalie Sherman, thanked the radio station saying it has been a great advocate of Wiltshire Digital Drive’s work. Ms Sherman said: “Keiran Thomas, Priority IT MD and the Priority IT team and ourselves managed to get a lot of support in the Make a Difference campaign, which they started in the first lockdown.
The Rotary Club of Chippenham is working with Priority IT in Westbury to get refurbished laptops and tablets to young people. Last summer the club looked at how they could help the community amidst the Covid-19 crisis as it could not do its usual fundraising. Instead, when they found out Priority IT were refurbishing laptops for school pupils, the club put out an appeal to see how many they could donate. Club president Rick Squires said: “That initial appeal last year produced 20 laptops. “But with schools closing again in the new lockdown, the club decided to put out an appeal to the local community for old laptops.