Power 2 Connect

Back to school is well and truly in full swing, and we’ve been busy making sure more students have access to the technology they need to learn and thrive! This week, one of our brilliant transport volunteers was out on the road delivering refurbished laptops to schools and organisations across the community, including: 💫 Harris Academy Battersea 💫 SOUTHFIELDS ACADEMY 💫 Centrepoint It’s always lovely to see these laptops heading off to their new homes. Every device gets a second lease of life, while helping to make sure more people have the technology they need to learn and stay engaged. A huge thank you to our brilliant volunteers for keeping the laptops moving and making all these deliveries happen! 🚚 

We’re so pleased to have the support of Wimbledon Foundation as we continue working to close the digital divide. 💻 This funding will help us reach more people across London with the devices, digital skills and support they need to feel confident and connected. For us, it means being able to do more of what we know makes a real difference; getting technology into the hands of people who need it and helping them build the skills and confidence to use it. A huge thank you to The Wimbledon Foundation for backing our work and helping us reach even more people. We’re really excited to see what we can achieve together! 🚀

There’s a lot of conversation at the moment about children’s access to social media, screen time and whether we should be putting more restrictions around it. But for lots of children, a laptop isn’t about scrolling TikTok or Instagram. It’s about doing their homework, researching a project, logging into school platforms, applying for things and building the digital skills they’ll need as they get older. As children are getting into the swing of a new school year, it's worth remembering that the need for devices is as great as ever - this is something our transport volunteers see first-hand when they’re out collecting and delivering devices in the community. If you’ve got an old laptop sitting unused at home, please consider donating it to us. That device could make a much bigger difference to a child than you might think! ♻️ You can find our tech donation form here: https://lnkd.in/e8DSg-UK #DigitalInclusion #DigitalPoverty #DigitalSkills #DigitalEquity  

🤔 How well do we really understand digital exclusion? It’s often reduced to whether someone has access to the internet or a device, but the reality is much more nuanced. Who is affected, what digital exclusion looks like and the barriers people face can vary hugely. We’ve put together a few true or false statements to challenge some of the common assumptions around digital exclusion. Swipe through to see what you think... and let us know if any of the answers surprised you!!

🚨 Our digital drop-ins are back! We’re excited to share our Autumn schedule. Each week, our volunteers will be based in libraries across Wandsworth, offering free, friendly digital support to help residents get online, build confidence using their devices and access essential services. 📅 Sessions restart today (w/c 14th September) and will run weekly until w/c 14th December, with a short break for half term (w/c 26th October). Whether someone needs help sending an email, completing an online form, getting to grips with their phone or laptop or simply wants to build their digital skills, our sessions are open to everyone. 💪 If you know someone who could benefit from a bit of extra support, please share this with them!

It was a pleasure to take part in this campaign with Virgin Media O2, highlighting just how important it is to get unused technology back into the hands of people who need it. 🤝 There are still around 1.6 million people in the UK living offline, with many more lacking the right device, skills or confidence to make the most of being online. (⁠UK government) At Power 2 Connect, we see the impact of digital exclusion every day - children trying to do their homework on a parent’s phone to adults struggling to access essential services simply because they don’t have a suitable device. That’s why we’re so pleased to see digital inclusion and the rehoming of technology being recognised at this scale. When there are millions of devices sitting unused, there’s a huge opportunity to turn something that’s gathering dust into something that can genuinely change someone’s life. A huge thank you to Virgin Media O2 for not only shining a light on this issue, but also for supporting our work in the past. We’ve seen first-hand what that support can make possible in our community. 🚀 Here’s to more tech being rehomed, more people getting connected and fewer people being left behind by an increasingly digital world!! #DigitalInclusion #TechForGood #DigitalExclusion #ResponsibleBusiness  

What would you struggle to do without the internet? 💻 For millions of people, this isn’t a thought experiment. Digital exclusion affects everyday life - from finding work and managing money to accessing healthcare and staying connected. This #EndDigitalPovertyWeek, we’re highlighting what being offline can really mean. ➡️ Swipe to find out more. Digital Poverty Alliance

This week, we are supporting End Digital Poverty Week. Across the UK, digital poverty affects up to 19 million people. It can mean not having a suitable device, being unable to afford enough data, struggling with an online service, or not having the confidence and support to use the digital tools now expected in everyday life. End Digital Poverty Week is a chance to bring those experiences into sharper focus and support the practical work needed to change them. We are sharing this because digital inclusion is not only a national issue. It is something organisations, communities and individuals can all help move forward.  #EndDigitalPoverty | #EDPW26 | Digital Poverty Alliance

As kids head back to school, the need for a working laptop is immediate; without one, a child can’t do tonight’s homework, join online lessons or keep up with their class. Not having tech in the moment is stressful enough, but what often gets overlooked is the long-term ripple effect. 📉 Struggling with daily tasks today quickly knocks a student's confidence, leaving them feeling left behind. Over time, missing out on basic tech fluency builds a silent barrier that restricts their higher education and job options down the line. We’re currently taking laptop donations just in time for the new school year. If you’ve got any lying around, we can take them off your hands, securely wipe them and get them directly to a local child in need. ➡️ You can fill out our tech donation form here: https://lnkd.in/e8DSg-UK

🤯 Did you know that neighbourhoods like Roehampton, Furzedown and Falconbrook experience some of the highest rates of digital exclusion in the capital? This means not having the devices, broadband or digital skills needed to fully take part in everyday life. It’s happening right here in our community... and it’s something we can all help change. Swipe ➡️ to find out more about digital exclusion in Wandsworth and how you can help.