The Edinburgh Remakery has launched Connect 50, a new crowdfunding campaign aiming to provide 50 refurbished laptops to people experiencing digital exclusion across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
From applying for jobs and accessing essential services to education and keeping in touch with loved ones, so much of everyday life now takes place online. Yet for many people, access to a computer remains out of reach.
Connect 50 aims to tackle this challenge while reducing electronic waste, giving unwanted technology a second life and helping more people stay connected to their communities.
One computer, two challenges
The campaign hopes to raise £15,000, with every £300 raised covering the cost of refurbishing and gifting a laptop to someone who needs it.
Working with local organisations including Cyrenians, The Welcoming, YMCA Edinburgh, Firsthand and Sparkle Sisters, the Edinburgh Remakery will distribute devices to people facing barriers to digital access, including refugees and New Scots, people experiencing homelessness, older people and families experiencing financial hardship.
The campaign builds on the Remakery’s existing Tech Gifting Programme, which has refurbished and gifted more than 3,000 devices since 2020.
As well as tackling digital exclusion, the initiative demonstrates the benefits of a circular economy, keeping valuable materials in use for longer, reducing electronic waste and extending the life of existing technology.
How to get involved
There are several ways to contribute to Connect 50:
Donate to the crowdfunder: Every contribution helps towards refurbishing and gifting a laptop.
Donate unwanted technology: Give an old laptop a new home by donating it to the Edinburgh Remakery.
Get your workplace involved: Businesses can donate surplus IT equipment to be securely wiped and refurbished.
Spread the word: Share the campaign with friends, colleagues and community networks.
By bringing together environmental action and digital inclusion, Connect 50 offers a practical way to reduce waste while making technology more accessible across Edinburgh.
Find out more and contribute to the campaign:
Connect 50: Give the Gift of Connection – Crowdfunder
You can also learn more about the Edinburgh Remakery’s wider work through its website, follow the link below.