Giving tech a second life: how this software firm is giving back
From being the first ever business to donate via A Good Thing in 2020, to donating 18 laptops and 9 monitors to over 19 wonderful charities, we couldn’t be more grateful to Berkshire software firm SquaredUp.
Where it all began
SquaredUp has been generously donating via the A Good Thing platform for over four years now. As a software firm, it has to refresh its developers’ laptops every few years and – rather than letting them go to landfill – SquaredUp is more than happy to give them a fresh start through A Good Thing. SquaredUp knew that the 18 laptops and 9 monitors they had would be invaluable to so many great charities.
With over 90 requests, though, choosing which charities to help was no easy task. SquaredUp tried to pick as many local charities as possible, so that a whole host of causes were being helped. In total, 19 fantastic charities received laptops or monitors.
Helping those with learning difficulties fulfil their potential
Style Acre is a fantastic charity that supports adults with learning difficulties in Oxfordshire. It has three community hubs where computers are used to help support people with a range of everyday tasks from sorting their finances to watching movies.
Receiving one laptop and two monitors has been a great help for the charity. The monitors have been used to “help users with limited sight as well as those users wishing to do artwork” while the laptop has given the charity the “portability” to allow those needing their support to work and take meetings in private.
In the words of Anne, who works with the charity: “The donation really makes a difference. We do not have the funds to purchase new computer equipment and what we do have is very old”.
Assisting with wildlife conservation
Pumpkin’s Wildlife Hospital helps to treat and rehabilitate wildlife in Rickmansworth. It was hoping for a laptop to help with its outreach programme, whereby it visits schools and groups to spread the message of the work it does.
The charity received an Apple MacBook and was “delighted”, as “it is an expensive item and the laptop for [our] outreach activities was on its last legs”.
This laptop has meant the charity is able to continue its invaluable outreach programme and keep spreading awareness of the work it does. In the words of Jenny, who works for Pumpkin’s Wildlife Hospital: “education is at the heart of what we do and will allow us to grow, create links with the local community and encourage new volunteers.”
Supporting and normalising parenting support
Families Thriving Together is a great charity offering vital parenting support and working hard to reduce the stigma around parenting programmes. As a small charity all the funds it receives go towards delivering its service, so (as staff told us) “we never have any funds to update equipment”.
SquaredUp’s donation has helped the trustees and freelance facilitators, who are all volunteers, to ensure they can keep doing their amazing work to the best of their abilities.
What has this taught us?
We’ve had some great feedback from the charities involved, as well as from SquaredUp itself: Sally Lawrie, Office Manager at the firm, told us she found our platform “straightforward” and had overall had a “very good experience” with us.
Whether you’re a charity after some much-needed support or a business looking to do good, why don’t you give us a go? Your unused items have another life in them yet!
The full list of charities helped is as follows:
Berkshire County Blind Society
Civil Aid Voluntary Rescue Association
Chloe and Sophie's Special Ears Fund
Brighter Futures Together
Maestro & Hunter Football Club
Chiltern Rangers
South Bucks Riding for the Disabled Association
The Oasis Partnership
The Autism Group
Wild Mind Well-being
Wycombe Food Hub
Wycombe Islamic Society (Wise)
Home-Start Slough
Bucks Search & Rescue