[WiLT] Westminster Council in computer giveaway to charities

[WiL Admin]

Westminster Council in computer giveaway



Charities can bag £200,000 worth of equipment each year



Westminster Council will give away computer equipment worth about
£200,000 to charities every year from next month.



The local authority said it had to upgrade its computers every three
or four years because they become too old to run important programs
and too expensive to maintain.



Rather than send 250 computers a year to the dump or for recycling,
the council decided the machines would be put to better use going to
volunteer groups or individuals.



The systems will be security checked and cleansed of data before being
loaded with charity-licensed software. Successful applicants will each
receive about £700 worth of computer equipment and software.



Melvyn Caplan, cabinet member for finance at the council, said:
"Having a computer has become an essential part of any successful
organisation, but at a cost of several hundred pounds a new computer
can seem like an expensive luxury to many volunteer groups. I'm
delighted that hundreds of our redundant computers will now be put to
good use."



In order to apply, a group must be classed as a charity or
not-for-profit organisation and be able to show how their service or
activity meets the needs of people living, working or studying in
Westminster.



Charities can email imcwilliams at westminster.gov.uk or call Westminster
Council on 020 7641 3382 for details.



>From Third Sector Online

http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=ew0r33I450l1k5I1j