How we make a difference
Acorn works towards a positive change in the community through our provisioning of free IT Courses, donations of equipment and expertise, and by providing low-income families and individuals with access to cheap, reliable IT equipment. The social benefits of helping to get people online are of increasing importance to our organisation.
The Digital Divide is the gap between those who have access to modern Information Technology and those who do not. It is our aim to reduce this gap as much as possible in our own community.
The Benefits of IT
The benefits to having access to Information Technology are numerous.
- Information. From checking the weather forecast, keeping up with the news, or looking up the sports results. Local and national governments also have large and constantly updated websites full of information useful to many people. The information on the web can be incredibly useful to any individual.
- Communication. Keeping in touch with friends and relatives can be difficult if they don't live nearby. With modern communication tools, people can stay in touch all around the globe, wherever there is an internet connection.
- Learning. Websites like Wikipedia and the Khan Academy and many others help people expand their knowledge and fill in the gaps in their education.
Low-cost IT Equipment
The equipment we process at our reuse & recycling facility is always considered for its potential re-use value. Many items that individuals or organisations no longer need can, after some maintenance and quality assurance, be provided at a minimal cost to those who need a computer system but cannot afford the prices of new equipment, helping to lower the economic barriers to entry for IT.
Free IT Courses
The UK Online courses we offer free to individuals in the community help reduce the knowledge gap. There are many people out there with little or no experience using computers, and this produces a significant barrier to their ability to make use of IT. We have helped many people overcome this barrier which allows them to make use of resources previously unavailable to them.
Community Donations
As part of our efforts to assist other community organisations we have made several donations to local groups in need of our resources and expertise. A few of them are detailed below.
PC Graham Eley – Jeanette Vasey (Fairways Association) – Ernie Nolan (Acorn Computers)
Marina Mccarthy (Phoenix) – Jonathan Clare (P & G) – Ernie Nolan (Acorn) – Simon Luddington (Phoenix)After their equipment was burgled Fairways was left without a computer. This was a huge disruption to their activities as they could no longer access their emails or the internet, and was a hindrance to communications with their members. Rather than having to stretch their limited resources for a replacement, Acorn was able to provide a replacement at no cost.
The Phoenix Centre, Wallsend
A part of Mental Health Matters, the Phoenix Centre wanted a computer for their clients to use for getting online and accessing the internet. Acorn was able to provide a fully functioning computer system for free.
Carville House
Carville House is a provider of sheltered accomodation in Wallsend. After receiving a donation from Acorn, the people who lived there had a public computer they could use for getting online.
Wallsend Air Cadets
Acorn donated several refurbished computer systems to the Wallsend Air Cadets, which they use to run flight simulators, an entertaining and educational activity for the cadets.
... and many more.
How you can help
To help us achieve our social and environmental goals you can donate any unused electronics your household or organisation no longer needs. Anything that can be reused will be put to use in a way that helps both the community and the environment.
