• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Tuesday September 21 2021

Aster Group donate laptops to local organisations

Housing association Aster Group has donated 40 used laptops to local community groups to be refurbished and used by those in need.

Wiltshire Digital Drive, a Wiltshire-based organisation enabling access to computers and education for individuals, schools and community groups, and Andover-based Yellow Brick Road Projects, a charity supporting young people to develop the skills they need to maintain a tenancy, have each received 20 laptops.

One of the impacts of Covid-19 has been the increase of the digital divide felt by many communities. To help combat this the Aster Foundation works with local organisations who support families, children and young people to address digital exclusion.

Natalie Sherman, director at Wiltshire Digital Drive said: “Thank you to Aster who have been a valuable partner this year providing a local hub at their Devizes office for people to drop off their old digital devices.

“This donation will help us to continue to help the environment by recycling old technology to support and enable education, knowledge and learning in our communities.”

Abi Facey, chief operations officer at Yellow Brick Road Projects said: “Yellow Brick Road Projects are delighted to receive 20 laptops from Aster which will benefit our learners by enabling them to engage digitally with our You Matter programme.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for digital support to enable our beneficiaries and their families to learn and stay connected with peers and services.”

The Aster Foundation works with Aster customers and their communities to address homelessness, mental health and wellness, financial exclusion, sustainability, unemployment, independence in later life and the impacts of COVID- 19.

Cam Kinsella, Aster Foundation director said: “Sustainability and reducing inequalities which create exclusion in life is something we feel passionate about.

“Supporting local community organisations like Yellow Brick Projects and Wiltshire Digital Drive means we can make a difference that is felt by all ages to reduce issues such as isolation and accessibility to education for all.”

Pictured: Kieran Thomas of Wiltshire Digital Drive with Neil Truckle, Aster desktop support analyst