A Dukinfield technology company have renewed their appeal for laptops ahead of the new school year.
Over the past 12 months ZenTec Network Solutions, based on Chapel Street in Dukinfield, have been collecting old laptops and tablets and refurbishing them, before passing them onto children without access to technology.
It’s been a lifesaver for many in this time of remote learning and online classes.
Now, ahead of the new school year, they need more devices than ever.
“The children we’ve been helping come from families of four and five,” said ZenTec co-founder Cerid Grimshaw.
“They’d be working off a mobile phone between all of them, and have lessons that clash at the same time.”
The business has already put £4,000 of their own money into refurbishing the donations, with laptops getting new batteries and screens, as well as upgraded RAM and hard drives.
Mike Brooks, co-founder of ZenTec Network solutions says that the response has been huge.
“The feeling you get as a business when you give the devices out, it’s just great,” he said.
It’s not just children that the business have been helping, with them donating technology to help the older generation online.
They even helped out a volunteer at Willow Wood Hospice who is bed bound and relies on technology to keep them connected, so ZenTec donated a tablet to them, helping them stay in touch.
Devices have also been sent to the Tameside East Foodbank, who have created a community cafe to teach people how to send emails and use networking apps such as zoom and Microsoft teams.
The business is now in the process of setting up a charitable arm to handle the donations to the business.
They’ve recently received a £500 donation from Hyde game studio Nequinox studios which paid for 20 refurbished laptops to be sent to Bradley Green Primary School.
The business are always looking for donations of laptops that can run Windows 7 or later and tablets.
If you have a device to donate or would like to make a cash donation you can do so by getting in touch with them directly at 0161 359 3986 or by visiting their website, www.zentecns.co.uk.
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