Donated devices help Renfrewshire residents study and stay connected

For Mary, a donated laptop meant she could keep studying. The young asylum seeker at the University of Glasgow received it through Pachedu’s E-Quality Access project, which gives unwanted devices another useful life.

In a new account, project coordinator Esther Misajel says 17 devices have reached people facing barriers to getting online. A tablet also helped Elaine, from the Senior Ferguslie group, stay in touch with family and friends while developing her digital skills.

The scheme joins refurbishment with local support. Renfrewshire Council explains that four libraries collect donations, which Pachedu securely wipes and refurbishes before redistribution. Library Digital Champions can help recipients build confidence using them.

These are the project’s own accounts of progress, rather than an independent evaluation. More than 100 devices have been collected and refurbished; that is a separate figure from the 17 distributed.

The work goes beyond handing over hardware, with workshops and individual help available too. For the people already reached, an unused device has become a way back into learning and everyday contact.

Sources

• Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland — Pachedu’s progress and participant accounts
• Renfrewshire Council — library collection, secure wiping and digital support