Donate IT Oldham Aims to help our most vulnerable residents get online by providing refurbished devices such as used laptops, smartphones, and tablets that businesses and members of the public no longer need.
When surveyed almost 40% of Oldham residents said they, or someone they lived with, experienced some form of difficulty getting online because they lack suitable digital devices and internet connections at home.
Donate IT Oldham is committed to reducing this figure and helping as many residents as possible.
Support
Please get involved and donate any unused or unwanted devices at any of Oldham Council’s libraries. We will then refurbish them and make sure they find a new home with someone across the borough who really needs it.
Back up any data before you drop it off and do a factory reset. We’ll do the rest. Anything we can’t refurbish will be recycled.
Items we can accept include:
- Laptops (Windows and Mac)
- Desktops (Windows and Mac)
- Tablets (Android & iOS)
- Smartphones (Android & iOS)
- We also accept old-style mobile phones and game consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation
Donate a device
You can donate your device at any library in Oldham
We accept a wide range of devices, including:
- Laptops (Windows and Mac)
- Desktops (Windows and Mac)
- Tablets (Android and iOS)
- Smartphones (Android and iOS)
- Old mobile phones
- Game consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, etc.)
Device condition
While we prefer devices to be in working condition, we understand that not all devices may be functional. If your device isn’t working, we will try to repair it. If it can’t be repaired, we will recycle it in an environmentally friendly way.
Age of device
There is no age limit for devices. Our goal is to refurbish or recycle as many devices as possible, regardless of how old they are.
Multiple devices
If you have a large number of devices to donate, please reach out to us at digital.gifting@oldham.gov.uk. We will contact you to arrange a collection.
What to do before donating
To ensure your personal data is secure, please follow these steps before donating your device:
- Laptops and Desktops: Back up any important data you may need.
- Apple Devices (iPhone, iPad): Sign out of iCloud and perform a factory reset.
- Android Devices: Sign out of your Google account and perform a factory reset.
If you’re unsure how to do a factory reset, don’t worry! You can visit our Digital Drop-In sessions at Oldham Library for assistance.
Digital Drop-In Schedule:
- Wednesdays 9am - 12pm
What happens to your device after donation?
Once your device is donated, it will be securely stored at Oldham Library until it is sent to Tameside Community Computers for refurbishment.
Here’s the process:
- Data Erasure: We use certified software to completely wipe all data from your device, and we provide a tamper-proof certificate to confirm the erasure.
- Inspection: The device is checked to see if it can be refurbished. If it’s suitable, it will undergo repairs and necessary replacements.
- Refurbishment: After being refurbished, the device will be distributed, free of charge, to someone in the Oldham community who is living in digital poverty.
- Recycling: If the device cannot be refurbished, it will be recycled responsibly.
Data security
To ensure your data is fully erased, we recommend you perform a factory reset before donating your device. After that, we use Certus erasure software to wipe any remaining data. For added peace of mind, we’ll provide you with a data erasure certificate for each device.