Throughout COVID-19, a considerable focus for Aspire Oxford has been tackling the “digital deficit” faced by many adults and young people, to reduce their isolation and overcome an additional barrier to access vital support and information. Since the start of the pandemic, Aspire has provided over 190 digital and connectivity devices for beneficiaries across our projects and programmes – from installing wi-fi in emergency accommodation, to providing laptops and tablets.

Aspire have collaborated with Oxfordshire Community Foundation and SOFEA to create and pilot ‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’, a project to refurbish donated digital devices and recycle them for redistribution to people facing digital exclusion throughout Oxfordshire – from school children to isolated older people.

Bridging the Digital Divide

The project has been developed in response to the lack of online access highlighted by COVID-19, affecting wellbeing and limiting people’s life chances as the pandemic accelerated the shift to many day-to-day processes now taking place online. Estimates indicate that up to 40,000 throughout the county continue to face isolation due to a lack of appropriate devices and connectivity – even as coronavirus restrictions ease.

Get Involved

If you have an old laptop, tablet or phone you no longer use that still works, consider donating it to Getting Oxfordshire Online for refurbishment and redistribution to someone in need! Donated devices can be dropped off at Aspire in Oxford or SOFEA in Didcot, where they will be securely wiped to remove all data, reset and passed on to local people who will receive support to make the best and safest use of their new devices.

Support Aspire this autumn

There are lots of other ways to support Aspire as we head into autumn and inch closer to the Christmas period. Visit our website to explore the support we provide across employment, housing, homelessness prevention, personal development and wellbeing – and browse how you can support our work today, from making a single donation or a regular pledge to our 20th anniversary appeal, to running for Team Aspire in the upcoming Oxford Half Marathon!

Find out more about Aspire on our Univ in the Community page. You can also email Aspire.

Published: 7 October 2021

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