INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
We're happy to help individual and family cases as well as organisations, but unfortunately we can't accept applications directly from the general public.
If you are an individual or family applying for free equipment, we ask for a referral from a reputable agency who can vouch for your circumstances, and who will act as intermediary between us and you.
Some examples are: charities, churches, community centres, support groups, health visitors, online tutors, schools or teachers, digital mentors, housing officers, work coaches, GP's, jobcentre agents, or any Staffordshire County Council family or youth service agent.
If your application is accepted we'll provide your equipment to the referring agency and they can take it from there.
This is because we don't hold our own safeguarding policy or carry out in-house vetting or background checks.
It's not something we're considering implementing, so we rely on those in place with the referring agency, and it's for them to convey a brief description of your situation to us, and tick a box to agree that you are in genuine need.
Once you've discussed your circumstances with a referring agency, please have them read the section below.
APPLY ONLINE
In the midst of unprecedented demand we are currently only accepting individual referrals from organisations registered within Stafford Borough, and from Staffordshire County Council family or youth service agents who may be based elsewhere.
This has been a difficult decision and a 'sting in the tail' of the popularity we've gained, but we have learned to be realistic about our limitations as a volunteer team.
We are optimistic that this is only temporary.
We have no minimum qualifying circumstances for free equipment, each application will be considered, by humans, on a case-by-case basis. It's for your agency to carry out any formal vetting and determine whether the individual or family is in genuine digital poverty and/or financially constrained, and we'll ask you to confirm this at the end of our online forms. We will however assess the credibility of the referring agency remotely, through social media and other online sources.
The forms do not ask for money or personal details, but nonetheless we have found that over-zealous workplace internet filters could block your connection.
If you are having difficulty accessing the forms you may need to reload from an alternative network or device.
If you represent an organisation in Stafford Borough, or you are an agent of a Staffordshire County Council family or youth service, wishing to refer an individual or family for support, please use this online form:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY
Sorry, we're not currently taking group applications.
TECH SUPPORT
All the equipment we provide is free, and refurbished. We don't offer any warranties and our responsibility for it ends upon our hand over.
All items undergo electrical and functionality checks while in our care, but we can't guarantee against issues which may arise as a result of sustained use.
In rare cases, features may be disabled if unviable to repair during refurbishment.
We're not responsible for any data losses incurred, for example through equipment failure, user error or damage, malicious software installed, or forgotten account details such as usernames and passwords.
We don't offer technical support or repairs for items we've provided "as is", or for equipment we haven't supplied.
Our volunteers' time is limited, and we decided very early on to be strict about our remit.
However, if you have discovered a fault in equipment we've supplied recently, let us know and we'll try to help.
For all other technical queries and repairs we highly recommend visiting our funding page to view our sponsors who include I.T. repair companies.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FUNDING PAGE
MISSION SUPPORT
Our mission partners are organisations which offer us routes to publicity, or free logistic or administrative support.
Or, they provide free services of their own which resonate with and complement our own charitable purposes.
Click to view their website:
MPFT Digital provide regular equipment donations to us, and digital skills sessions in our area
The Little George in Eccleshall takes equipment donations on our behalf
IT For Charities lists other projects like ours supplying recycled PC's, many of whom operate nationwide.
Ace Computers in Newport take equipment donations on our behalf
The Calibration Centre maintain our electrical test equipment
Staffordshire County Council provide regular equipment donations to us through their TechCycle scheme
SimPal offer pre-paid SIM cards and hot-spots to anyone who can't afford an internet connection
EEE4 turn all of our unviable repairs into employment opportunities and work skills
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