Computer Recyclers UK 🤝 Centrepoint: Tackling Digital Poverty & Homelessness
Computer Recyclers UK Ltd are proud to announce that Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, has chosen Computer Recyclers UK’s to support their mission to end youth homelessness by 2037.
About Centrepoint
Centrepoint was founded in 1969 by Reverend Kenneth Leech at St Anne’s Church in Soho, and is the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity. With the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales, Centrepoint provides homeless young people aged 16-25 with accommodation, health support, life skills training, and pathways back into education and employment.
They operate accommodation services in London, Manchester, Yorkshire, the Northeast, and across the UK through partnerships, providing safe places to live and comprehensive support designed with young people’s wellbeing in mind. Centrepoint’s Helpline offers instant advice to young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes, and has helped thousands since its launch in 2017.
With the mission to end youth homelessness by 2037, Centrepoint campaigns to influence national and local government policy, collaborates with over 100 partner organisations, and delivers exemplary services that create lasting change in young people’s lives. They recognise that addressing housing poverty and digital poverty together is essential for enabling young people to build a sustainable future.
Bridging Two Critical Gaps: Digital Poverty and Youth Homelessness
Since 2010, Computer Recyclers UK’s GetOnline@Home programme has been leading the charge in tackling digital poverty and exclusion, to provide affordable, refurbished technology throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. This has been a game-changer for people living on benefits and low incomes, giving them access to the digital world and all the opportunities that come with it.
GetOnline@Home’s work with Centrepoint represents the natural convergence of two vital causes. Just as Centrepoint provides homeless young people with safe accommodation and the support they need to rebuild their lives, GetOnline@Home provides access to technology and equipment that can open doors to education, employment, and opportunity. Young people need digital access to participate fully in society and interact with the online world.
The digital divide remains a significant barrier for many people living in poverty across the UK. Inadequate access to digital technology, internet connectivity, and the inability to afford devices mean millions remain digitally excluded and unable to access vital services, pursue higher education, develop digital skills, or benefit from online resources that others take for granted.
Since its inception, GetOnline@Home has supplied thousands of refurbished devices to individuals on benefits, families, schools, universities, colleges, and charities, helping bridge the digital divide and address digital exclusion across the UK. Every device undergoes rigorous refurbishment, including professional cleaning, hardware testing, secure data destruction, and operating system installation, ensuring quality technology at a fraction of the cost of new equipment.
Supporting Young People in Crisis
Centrepoint provides accommodation and support to homeless young people aged 16-25. They provide approximately 1,200 bed spaces nationwide and support over 15,000 young people annually through their accommodation services, Centrepoint Helpline, and partnerships across England, working hard to end housing poverty.
According to Centrepoint’s research report, over 118,000 young people faced homelessness in 2023-24, representing a significant increase from previous years. Many of these young people are experiencing hidden homelessness through sofa surfing, sleeping in temporary accommodation, or facing unstable living situations. Without stable housing, internet access, or digital resources, these young people face additional barriers to accessing education, training, and essential services online.
Sadie Odeogberin, National Head of CentrePoint Works states “Computer Recyclers UK contribution is helping us to support young people like Dee, who was assisted by the Centrepoint Helpline during a time of crisis. Dee had been sofa surfing, fleeing domestic violence from a family member, and living on just £115 a week from sick pay. “When I first reached out to the Centrepoint Helpline,” Dee recalls, “I felt like I was fighting a losing battle. The world seemed to be closing in on me, and I was desperate for help. From the moment I reached out, I encountered nothing but empathy, compassion, and warmth.” Thanks to Computer Recyclers UK contributon, we’re able to continue to offer young people access to vital opportunities they may not have had before seeking support from us. Your contribution is helping to pave the way toward a future free from homelessness and the hardship that so often accompanies it.
Marcus Griffiths, Director of Circular Services at Computer Recyclers UK rejects planned obsolescence and supports a sustainable future while ensuring everyone has access to the digital tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive in the digital age. “This partnership with CentrePoint is a great example of what Computer Recyclers UK support, and why we work so hard to re-use, refurbish and re-distribute digital devices, helping individuals like Dee, while protecting the environment also.”
For more information:
Computer Recyclers UK Ltd
Apollo House, Penygraig Industrial Estate
Dinas Road, Penygraig, RCT CF40 1HZ
Tel: 03719 100 100
Email: enquiries@computerrecyclersuk.com
Web: www.computerrecyclersuk.com | www.getonlineathome.org
Centrepoint
The Rowe, 59-63 Whitechapel High Street
London, E1 7PF
Supporter Care: 0800 23 23 20
Web: www.centrepoint.org.uk