Tech donation
Give your old tech a second life
Here's what happens to your data, what we can take, and where your device ends up.
Local people donate it. → Local students refurbish it. → Local people receive it.
Your old tech. Their new opportunity.
Supporting local communities through technology. Together we're tackling digital exclusion across Staffordshire.
Why donate?
Not having a device of your own can shut you out of jobs, money, services, even staying in touch with the people you love. It's not that there isn't enough tech to go round, it's that so much of it sits unused.
Sources: Good Things Foundation, National Device Bank research, 2026; REPIC/Mustard consumer research, 2022.
That gap is felt right here too, across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire. Local research flags young people, parents and older people as most at risk of digital exclusion. Reboot exists to close that gap: thousands of working devices sit unused nearby, while someone just down the road has none at all.
That old device in the drawer?
Who we are
Reboot IT For All is a community interest company closing the digital divide across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire. We take working tech people no longer need, data wipe it, repurpose it, and get it to local people who need it, through community partners, schools, charities and councils.
Bringing a device to our stand takes just a few minutes.
What happens to your device
You drop it off
Hand it to us at the stand. Want a certificate? Just ask.
We data wipe it
At Reboot HQ, to police-approved standards, before anything else happens.
We repurpose it
Checked, refurbished and readied to be used again.
We donate it locally
Passed to a local charity, school or community group.
What we can take at the box
Happy to take
- Working laptops
- Working tablets
- Working mobile phones
- Anything working and less than 9 years old
- Cables and chargers, if you have them to hand
Can't take at the box
- Devices that no longer switch on or work
- Old feature phones, like BlackBerrys
- Anything that wouldn't realistically be used today
- Non-tech items
Security you can trust
We don't just take data security seriously, we're built for it. Our processing partner operates as a PASF-accredited secure facility, with staff vetted to NPPV2 level, the standard used for handling police data. Every device is data wiped to that standard at Reboot HQ before anything else happens, so you can be confident your data is gone for good, a level of assurance most donation schemes simply can't offer.
Frequently asked questions
Your data
Is my personal data safe?+
Yes, to a higher standard than most. Every device is data wiped at Reboot HQ, to the standard approved for police data, before it's repurposed or passed on. See "Security you can trust" above.
Can I get proof of the data wipe?+
Yes. Let us know when you drop it off and we'll take the details we need to send you a certificate once it's done.
What to bring
What condition does my device need to be in?+
It needs to switch on and work, an older iPhone or laptop that still runs is exactly what we want. We can't take devices that no longer work, or old feature phones.
How old can the device be?+
Less than 9 years old and still working, that's all we need.
Do I need to bring the charger or cables?+
No, that's not a barrier at all. Bring them along if you have them, but if not, just bring the device.
What if my device is broken, or too old to be useful?+
We're not able to take it at the box, as it can't be safely repurposed, but please don't just bin it. Recycle it through your council's electrical waste collection instead.
How we refurbish
How do you refurbish the devices?+
Every device is data wiped at Reboot HQ first, so nothing with your data on it ever reaches a workbench. From there, local college T Level students get hands-on experience: checking devices work, diagnosing faults, problem-solving repairs, and installing new software.
Real-world experience for them, a careful refurbishment for every device.
Where devices go
Who benefits from the donated devices?+
We work with community partners, charities, schools, community groups and local councils, who pass devices on to people who need them.
Can I donate to a specific cause?+
We place devices with partners based on need, so we can't guarantee a specific group, but every device stays local.
Beyond the expo
Can I still donate if I miss you at the Climate Expo?+
Yes. Visit reboot-it.org and use "I've got tech to donate" to arrange a drop-off.