PR and communications firms can now donated any un-used (or under-used) IT equipment such as laptops, tablets and mobiles to help the lonely and vulnerable.
Social enterprise SocialBox.Biz works with local and national charities to put laptops into homeless centres to provide social and digital inclusion to those who need it the most.
They also support refugees living in the UK who need access to IT to connect with their families and their new communities.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have also recently started to include older people and care homes in the scheme.
PR and communications firms are sat on old and un-used IT. This is a perfect opportunity to help those whose isolation is increased because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
The last PRCA Council meeting agreed that donating IT would be a simple way for the profession to help connect vulnerable people during the pandemic and PR teams would not be alone in making donations.
Firms such as BP, Legal & General, Regus, Shell and Youngs & Co Brewery have already backed the scheme. Partner charities include Age UK Camden, C4WS Homeless Project, the Simon Community Scotland and Working Chance.
The team at Age UK London commented:
The current situation is shedding light on the need for people to be connected and informed through the internet and being online is a lifeline now more than ever.
Peter Paduh, Founder of SocialBox.Biz, said:
With the country under lock down, many people who previously relied on human contact are now left isolated. From older people in care homes to young refugees, hundreds of thousands are in need.
IT has never been more critical to our mental health and every firm can help plug the gap.
For more information PR teams and agencies can visit socialbox.biz or call 0843 289 5722
Featured image by LondonMatt on Flickr / Creative Commons.
Ramblings Of A PR 
Wirral In It Together
27/02/2022
Why would PR people want to help others? Genuine question.