FORTY-five local children now have a computer thanks to a new initiative from local digital charity, Every Child Online, supported by Thurrock Council. 

Cllr Vikki Hartstean, cabinet member for children's services, education and community safety, attended a special event at Grays Library on Tuesday, 17 February where computer desktop kits were handed over to local young people. 

Every Child Online collects old computers and tablets, donated by their users. It wipes out all the personal data on the machine, then cleans and rebuilds the laptops and provides them to local youngsters at risk of being digitally excluded. 

The youngsters were all from local schools, Thameside Primary and Grays Convent school. 

Cllr Hartstean said: "Digital exclusion puts young people at a disadvantage in terms of learning and future life chances, and too many computers and laptops are ending up in landfill. What I love about this scheme is it is both helping the planet and supporting the education of our children."   

Mike Tarbard from Every Child Online said: "Throwing out your old digital devices could expose your personal data to criminal gangs. With every machine donated to us, we securely erase the device using certified data-destruction processes, ensuring all personal information is permanently removed, then we re-build them and provide them to local youngsters without a computer." 

The families of the children each pay £20 for the desktop kits which covers the cost of wiping it clean and refurbishing it, so it is as good as new. 

Getting rid of an old laptop, tablet or mobile?  

Bring your unwanted computers, tablets and devices to Grays Library between 10am to 12:30pm, Saturday 21 February and donate it to Every Child Online. 

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Your device will be professionally and securely erased using certified data-destruction processes, ensuring all personal information and data are permanently removed. 

It will then either be recycled responsibly or rebuilt, repurposed, and provided to a local youngster without a computer. It will never be sold for profit. 

If you need support with getting online via your mobile phone, you can visit your local library for support. Thurrock Libraries is a community partner of the Good Things Foundation: National Databank scheme, which provides free mobile phone data, texts and calls for people in need.