Nationwide Building Society has generously presented a £2,000 donation to Swindon’s Threshold charity as part of Sir Robert Buckland’s ongoing Laptops for Local Schools and Charities Campaign.
Since its launch in January 2021, this initiative has run parallel to the Government’s ‘Get Help with Technology Scheme,’ urging individuals and businesses in the community to contribute unused laptops. These devices are then refurbished and distributed to schools and local charities.
Local businesses, SP Computers, and Excalibur Communications have been instrumental in collecting donated laptops since the campaign’s inception, refurbishing them to benefit school children and various charitable organisations across town with over a hundred laptops have already been donated to schools, including Swindon’s Neuro Wellbeing Centre, Voluntary Action Swindon, The Harbour Centre, The Shop in Park South, and more.
Following a productive meeting between Nationwide and Sir Robert Buckland, the organisation, which leases laptops for its employees, decided to support the campaign by making a donation to a local charity for the purchase of new laptops.
Rachel Smith, Social Investment Senior Manager at Nationwide, expressed their delight, stating, “At Nationwide, we are pleased to contribute this donation to Threshold for the acquisition of laptops.
“Each year, we allocate 1% of our pre-tax profits to support good causes, with a particular focus on aiding those in need of housing. Assisting Threshold in improving the lives of their service users in Swindon aligns perfectly with Sir Robert Buckland’s scheme.”
Michael Keenan, Threshold’s Chief Executive, highlighted the significance of internet access in today’s digital world, emphasising that many residents lack the necessary devices to benefit from online services. “Increasingly, services are accessed and delivered via online platforms and yet the overwhelming majority of our residents don’t even have access to smart phones let alone tablets or laptops. Not having access to the internet precludes them from therapeutic, training, and essential services they could make use of or must rely upon to fulfil treatment orders, for example.
“We are therefore most grateful to Nationwide and Sir Robert Buckland’s office for facilitating this donation which will allow us to purchase discounted IT equipment which will advance the life-enhancing access to online services that our many service users would otherwise struggle to obtain.”
While the new IT equipment and software systems will make a substantial positive impact, Michael said that the charity would still greatly appreciate further donations of working second-hand laptops, tablets, and old mobile phones.
“While the new IT and the appropriate software systems this donation will allow us to purchase will make a powerful and positive difference, the charity would still benefit enormously from further donations of working second-hand laptops, tablets and old mobile phones, which will all be deployed to improve connectivity and support service users who can best make use of access to online support and therapeutic interventions, as well as training and people should contact Threshold directly if they wish to donate such items”.
Sir Robert Buckland MP expressed his delight at Nationwide’s involvement in the campaign and praised Threshold as a remarkable local charity. “After speaking to Nationwide Building Society CEO Debbie Crosbie about my ongoing scheme during a recent meeting, I am delighted that this Swindon-based business has decided to become involved.
“Threshold is a wonderful local charity, and this donation will enable them to purchase the laptops that they need to set up their new IT-based therapeutic intervention area.
“Since Threshold was first established in 1972, the charity has worked tirelessly, supporting thousands of local people, and helping them to create a better life and independence.
“Along with Nationwide, I am looking forward to visiting Threshold again, once the new IT area is up and running.”
If you have an unused laptop to contribute to Sir Robert’s local scheme or if you run a local business and wish to make a donation, please reach out by emailing robert.buckland.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01793 533393.
