Breathing new life into old computers…

In a move that is set to boost digital skills for local children, Runcorn-based business, Asset Lifecycle Solutions (ALS), has donated 15 repurposed computers to children from Weston Primary School in Widnes.

The scheme was initiated by Gina Czarnecki-Gables, Senior Public Engagement Producer at Sci-Tech Daresbury and Halton Borough Council and the Public Engagement Team at the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Through her work with primary schools across Halton, Gina identified a concerning gap, with many pupils entering secondary education with limited or no basic computer skills. This insight prompted a collaborative response through the Sci-Tech Daresbury Joint Venture Board to tackle the issue.

From this, a highly impactful initiative was developed, with ALS reclaiming and repurposing laptops from its existing client base, creating new opportunities for digital learning across the curriculum.

“It’s fantastic to see these computers being given a second chance of life and we are so grateful to Asset Lifecycle Solutions for gifting these laptops to Weston Primary School,” said Mike Stapleton-Chambers, senior quality assurance officer for Halton Borough Council.

For staff and pupils at Weston Primary School, the impact of these computers will be immediate and far-reaching. Where learning was previously delivered via tablets, the introduction of 15 computers opens up new opportunities for more comprehensive IT teaching and skill development.

“We are so appreciative to Asset Lifecycle Solutions and feel extremely lucky to be the first school in Halton to receive these free computers,” said Helen Pitt, head teacher at Weston Primary School.

“With school budgets stretched to the limit, every penny counts and these computers will support teaching and learning across the whole curriculum, especially in the development of computer skills, and in particular, coding.”

Following this, a new arrangement has been put in place to refurbish computers from the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, enabling even more local schools to benefit from repurposed equipment.

Phill Day is public engagement manager at STFC and he explained: “Scientific and high performance computing underpins a significant amount of our STEM activities here at Daresbury Laboratory, and we have been working with Primary Schools across the borough to support the teaching of coding in a creative making context. Through delivering these activities – Gina in my team noticed that there were schools that didn’t have even basic IT equipment, it made absolute sense to us to facilitate our computers being repurposed for the children.

“We need to equip children with the skills needed later in life, especially given the local area and the prominence of science and technology in the jobs market. STFC is proud to have played a part in helping to give local children those essential skills.”

By rescuing IT equipment and ensuring it reaches organisations where it can make a real difference, ALS is helping to address both environmental concerns around electronic waste and the digital divide facing many schools.

“From day one, ALS has always been about ‘profit with purpose’ and we pride ourselves on working with value-led companies,” explains Ben Griffin, founder of ALS. “So, when the opportunity came to provide equipment for Weston Primary School, we jumped at it.

“We’re delighted that these local children will get to learn essential computing skills, particularly coding, and hopefully leading on from this, we’ll be able to donate more repurposed computers to other schools in Halton.”

Thanks to collaborative efforts like this, talented young learners at Weston Primary School are now better equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital world and with more schools in Halton set to receive their own repurposed equipment in the coming months, the initiative is set to ensure the computer wizards of the future have the essential skills needed.

Image caption:  Children from year 5 at Weston Primary School with from left to right, Helen Pitt, head teacher, Phill Day, public engagement manager at STFC, Ben and Kristie-Jo Griffin founders of ALS, Mike Stapleton-Chambers, senior quality assurance officer at Halton Borough Council and Gina Czarnecki-Gables, senior public engagement producer at Sci-Tech Daresbury.