Giroscope says Hull tech refurb scheme is booming

A charity that refurbishes old devices says it has seen a huge increase in donations, helping hundreds of people get online.

Giroscope said it had received about 600 PCs, laptops and smartphones in the past year alone, compared with the previous four years when it said it had been given about 650 devices.

Jim Rintoul, a Giroscope support worker and supervisor, said: “There’s been such a lot of interest. A lot of our customers can’t afford to buy new IT.”

Muhammed Zaid Zafar Ali, 18, who received a refurbished PC, said: “I use mine for work and university. I have my own projects going on so it works well for both. I can get everything done.”

Mr Ali said his PC was “really easy to use and navigate”.

He added: “The more tech you have, the better. My dad was wanting one and then word spread across my family and now more and more people are wanting them.”

The Peel Project in Hull, where Mr Ali works, is one of the beneficiaries of the scheme.

In the last two weeks, 18 people have booked to view and buy an upcycled PC for £60.

Jamal Choudhury, Peel Project managing director, said the scheme was “amazing”.

He said: “We know digital exclusion is a big thing and, ultimately, we hope this affordable option helps.

“Some families and households don’t have PCs and have never had them in the house and we’ve had refugees and asylum seekers just using mobile phones to do homework on.

“We’ve had uni students buy them.”

Some of the computers donated to Giroscope were from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and Hull-based firm Sewell group.

The charity was recently awarded a £59,000 grant to continue its work.

Mr Rintoul added: “Increasingly, you need a computer to be able to access Universal Credit, make medical appointments and do online banking.

“It [the scheme] is also great for the environment.”