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BA gives computers to charity in new initiative

Computers will be refurbsihed and used to give elderly access to internet

BA CIO Paul Coby

British Airways (BA) is to donate computers that become redundant in upgrades to charity Age Concern in a new initiative to provide computers for older citizens.

Not-for-profit company Maxitech expects to refurbish some 3,000 computers to be donated by BA over the next year. They will then be safely wiped and used by an advocacy service run by Age Concern to allow older people to access the internet and training at the charity’s drop-in centre in Slough.

Paul Coby, BA chief information officer, says the firm wants to support the local community. ‘British Airways has a long-standing commitment to be a good neighbour to the communities it serves,’ he said.

‘As our home base, Heathrow Airport and the surrounding boroughs are very important to us. We are delighted to support Age Concern through the provision of computers to their centres in West London and Slough.’

Age Concern Slough chief executive Tracey Morgan says the computers will make a significant difference to the lives of senior citizens in Slough.

‘They will have the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and have access to health advice,’ she said.

‘Helping them to improve their computer skills and giving them free access to the internet will give older people, who would otherwise be excluded, the same opportunities to make use of the benefits that communicating via the internet provides for millions of people every day,’ she said.

Maxitech managing director Peter Paduh said: ‘An estimated two million working Pentium or equivalent PCs are dumped in landfill sites in the UK every year, creating a massive environmental hazard.

‘Our priority is to prevent old computers from becoming an environmental liability, and instead turn them into a valuable resource for charities and c ommunity groups.’

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