District environment trophy

Members of the satellite e-club are delighted to have been awarded the District 1030 Environment Trophy in recognition of their Digital Access Across Teesdale project which set out to provide a new home for old/unused IT equipment.

All donated hardware was professionally 'data cleansed' to remove any personal information before being given to Teesdale community groups and individuals in need – with a significant number of school children benefiting from the project during the pandemic.

Post pandemic, the need greatly diminished and, in 2023, the project was brought to a halt with the final giving of computers and laptops to Ukrainian refugees living in Teesdale and other community groups for distribution through their networks.

Satellite e-club members were advised that to purchase the amount of equipment donated, second-hand, would cost in the region of £20,000. Not a bad return on a total reconditioning cost of £2500 which was sourced from generous County Councillors, local donations, and running a market stall.

The e-club wish to thank two people for the success of this project: Richard Witham, who was the driving force and spent many months surrounded by IT equipment in his home, and Peter Colley whose business contacts proved invaluable in sourcing unused IT.