Latest News

Community Computers, based on Shard End Crescent, Shard End, officially opened on Thursday, 20th November, with the help of Chris Leggett, Service Birmingham's Corporate Development Director, and Birmingham City Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities Cllr Sue Anderson who is also a 'champion' for the third sector.

Residents who are in receipt of one of a range of benefits including income support, job seekers allowance, housing benefit and disability living allowance, will be able to pick up a bargain with recycled computers starting at £40 and laptops at £90.

The shop is supported through a joint partnership between Service Birmingham, which organises the recycling of Birmingham City Council's computers back into the community, and Secure IT Disposals Ltd, which wipes all of the data off them and runs the shop. The disposals company will also accept unwanted computers and accessories. Owners can take their unwanted items into the shop and be assured that the data will be destroyed and they will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

Chris Leggett, Service Birmingham's Corporate Development Director, said: "At Service Birmingham we are committed to digital inclusion and helping to reduce the city's carbon footprint so this project is extremely important for us. I'm sure the shop will prove to be a great success and we look forward to many residents, who perhaps wouldn't otherwise be able to buy a PC or laptop, realising the benefits of having a computer."

Martin Burke, Managing Director of Secure IT Disposals Ltd said: "Following customer feedback we plan to develop the shop to offer a range of services and our aim is to provide a computer to everyone in the community who would benefit from one. We will be introducing a range of payment schemes to make it feasible for those on the lowest incomes and, for customers who can only afford a lower spec machine, a savings club will be put in place to enable them to trade up to a higher spec machine later on."

Opening hours will be between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am and 2.30pm on a Saturday. Residents must take proof of their name, address and which benefits they are receiving. For more information call 0870 727 1578 or to view the range of equipment or purchase online go to www.speedie.co.uk.

The computers will include Microsoft Windows, Office 2003 including powerpoint and excel, and also a free session on how to set up the equipment and use it at home.

Maureen Kovacs, a Shard End resident who was one of the first to pick up a computer said: "I'm quite excited! My son and daughter-in-law bought me the computer for my birthday next week - I'll be 69. All of my grandchildren have computers so I'm planning to email them... I might even go on Facebook and see what they've all been up to!"