This Giving Tuesday, the Digital Poverty Alliance calls on individuals, organisations, and communities across the UK to make a lasting difference in the fight against digital exclusion. In today’s connected world, millions are still cut off from essential services, education, and employment opportunities due to a lack of digital access. By contributing funds or donating a used or unwanted laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can help bridge this gap and empower individuals, families, and communities to participate fully in society. Every donation is a step toward building a more inclusive UK, where digital access is available to all.
Recent research from the Digital Poverty Alliance reveals that 86 per cent of parents identify cost as the main barrier preventing their children from accessing a laptop, deepening the digital divide in underserved communities. Nearly 80 per cent of students now require internet access for homework at least once a week, with older students increasingly dependent on digital resources – meaning children without access to these tools face considerable setbacks. The research further reveals that 88 per cent of parents believe their children are at a disadvantage without a laptop, underscoring the urgent need to address this widening gap.
The Digital Poverty Alliance is committed to bridging this divide through impactful programmes like Tech4Youth, Tech4YoungCarers, and Tech4Families, which provide essential devices, connectivity, and digital skills training to those who need them most. “With 1 in 5 children and 1 in 7 adults in the UK still lacking the digital access needed to participate fully in society, every donated device and every contribution can make a life-changing difference,” says Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance. “This Giving Tuesday, we invite everyone to support a more digitally inclusive UK. By donating funds or essential devices, you can create immediate change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the UK.”
Aligned with Black Friday, the DPA also encourages those upgrading their devices to donate their unused laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Each device is carefully refurbished and distributed to those in need, providing a critical tool for learning, job searching, and staying connected.
Jennifer Neely, Development Manager at the Digital Poverty Alliance, emphasises the profound impact of each donation: “A donated device can be life-changing – it is a bridge to opportunity, learning, and connection. Each laptop, tablet, or smartphone we deliver provides someone with the tools to pursue education, employment, and a place in the digital world. Every contribution, no matter its size, moves us closer to a fairer society where everyone can participate and thrive.”
How to Help:
Make a Financial Donation: Your funds directly support providing devices, digital skills training, and connectivity to those most in need. To make a financial donation, please click here.
Donate a Used or Unwanted Device: Laptops, smartphones, and tablets can be refurbished and repurposed to transform lives. This Giving Tuesday, give your device a new purpose and make a lasting impact. For more details on how you can donate your used or unwanted device, please click here.
“Every contribution brings us closer to ending digital poverty in the UK,” adds Anderson. “Together, we can build a society where everyone has the tools to succeed.”