About Us
Lambeth TechAid came together in March 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the lockdown came into effect across the UK, many individuals were left without access to the internet. Existing inequalities have been amplified across the country as many everyday tasks and services have become accessible exclusively through online platforms, leaving many members of our community behind.
We collect devices people no longer need (principally computers, tablets and mobile phones), remove all data, ensure they are in good working order and deliver them to people in need, identified through local schools, women’s aid groups, disability, refugee and other community organisations.
Starting out as a small group of volunteers, LTA has since grown to 25 volunteers and has received upward of 300 devices. We work with local community driven organisations to ensure that these donations reach those who are in the most need.
Lambeth TechAid is proud to have Labour MP for Streatham, Bell Ribeiro-Addy as our Patron.
Our work is supported with generosity from the Walcot Foundation, Battersea Power Station Foundation and Lambeth Forum Network.
Who Benefits
Recipients are identified by local schools, charities and voluntary groups. Students, young people leaving the care system, women identified by women’s aid groups, housing association residents, refugees and families with “No Recourse to Public Funds*’’ all have received devices from us. Many more requests are in the pipeline. Additional requests from other organisations are in the queue, and we believe that there is a considerably wider need for technology and internet access amongst Lambeth’s diverse communities.
Our current and pending recipients’ list includes the following organisations:
Bishop Thomas Grant Secondary School
Central Southwark Community Hub
Christ Church SW9 Primary School
Community Support Network South London
Elmgreen School, Parent Promoters
Friends of Reay Charity
High Trees Community Development Trust
Indoamerican Refugee & Migrant Organisation
Lambeth Youth Offending Service
Millennium Community Service CIC
South London Refugee Association
Whitehorse Manor Junior School
In order to respond to as broad a range of requests as possible, we ask that organisations limit each request to no more than 5 devices in total. Following delivery of these, the requesting organisation is then welcome to submit another request for up to 5 more devices. There is no limit to the number of requests they can submit but we ask that they wait for an outstanding request to be filled before submitting a further request.
*No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is a term used for people who are subject to immigration control and have no entitlement to welfare benefits, to home office asylum support for asylum seekers or to public housing. They include families with young children and vulnerable young people with nowhere to turn.