SocialBox.Biz: Case Study Updates with Age UKs in London – Reuse First Before Computer Recycling London

Case study: Age UK Westmisnter City update June 2025

The Lenovo chromebooks S340-14 that SocialBox.Biz provided ( with larger screens for older people living on small pension who not afford any computer hardware of software ) recently have been a great help not only to our Digital Library and digital inclusion sessions but to those clients that needed a replacement laptop or their very first laptop as they were unable to purchase themselves.

Age UK Westminster really appreciates SocialBox.Biz and your continued support, Peter. Many thanks for allowing our members to be more digitally inclusive and to be more computer literate at a time when being digitally able is extremely important with the advancement of the digital age.

Some feedback:

‘Thank you so much to Age UK Westminster and SocialBox.Biz for providing me with a chromebook. I’ve been without the use of my laptop for sometime and I was surprised at how fast the chromebook is and I can use it from the comfort of my home without having to go to the libary to use their computer.’
Thank you
EB

‘I’ve never had a laptop or personal computer and I’m grateful for the chromebook. I’m learning all the time and learning new things. I’m able to connect with my family and keep in touch with friends more often. A new toy!’
BW
AC

Case Study: Age UK City of London & SocialBox.Biz Device Loan Scheme
(Spring / Summer 2025 update)

Overview

In 2025, Age UK City of London collaborates with SocialBox.Biz to advance its Device Loan scheme, providing older adults with laptops featuring privacy-respecting, open-source software.
Implementation

Throughout 2025, Age UK City of London promoted the scheme through newsletters and in-person client sessions, showcasing SocialBox.Biz’s laptops to highlight accessible, privacy-focused technology.

Progress

In-person sessions helped clients explore privacy-respecting software, boosting confidence.
Newsletters increased awareness and interest in the scheme.
Clients began adopting devices for everyday digital tasks.
Outcomes (June 2025)

By June 2025, the scheme expect to show growing engagement, with more clients participating in sessions and borrowing devices, enhancing their digital literacy and independence.

Conclusion

The partnership with SocialBox.Biz is effectively promoting privacy-focused technology, empowering older adults with secure digital tools in 2025.

Businesses are invited to reach out to SocialBox.Biz when upgrading their computers to assess which devices can be reused before discarding or recycling old technology.

Learn about open-source software
Hashtag: #DigitalInclusion #PrivacyTech #AgeUK #SocialBoxBiz

Summary of SocialBox.Biz Laptop Donation Case Studies ( 29 May 2025 ) Age UK Islington

SocialBox.Biz, a London-based social enterprise, donates repurposed corporate laptops with open source software to disadvantaged individuals through partnerships with organizations like Age UK Islington, driving social impact and aligning with its “spring cleaning” mission. Below are two case studies illustrating the transformative effects of these donations:

Age UK Islington Client (Job Seeker with Mobility Challenges)
Profile: A client new to the borough, actively seeking employment, relied on a smartphone for job applications, hindered by chronic pain and limited mobility.

Challenge: Smartphone-only access limited job search efficiency and online course enrollment, while isolation grew due to mobility constraints and a preference for email communication.

Solution: SocialBox.Biz provided a laptop, enabling online job applications, course registration, and email-based social connections.

Impact: The client improved job application efficiency, enrolled in a course, and reduced isolation, boosting confidence and employability.

SOCIALBOX.BIZ |  CASE STUDY FROM AGE UK WESTMINSTER ( Spring 2025 )

This spring, SocialBox.Biz is encouraging enterprises and organisations to consider donating their old but usable tech. Spring cleaning often yields many items that can be reused and donated to SocialBox.BIz. A simple donation can make a major impact in the life of someone in need.

The SocialBox.Biz mission is to take old but still working laptops and other tech, scrub them clean of their data, and help those items to older adults who can not afford any computer hardware or software and homeless people trying to get back on their feet and moving into accommodation.

Age UK Westminister, a benefactor of a laptop donated via SocialBox.Biz during its Christmas 2024 Tec-Lab deliveries, said that a client had their laptop stolen and was grateful to receive a replacement.

“Many thanks for the laptop,” said the client. “I was lost without one and was unable to Skype with
my family abroad.”

Another client there at Age UK Westminster received a laptop via SocialBox.Biz after her own computer was stricken with issues. She was going to the library to use their resources until SocialBox.Biz stepped in. “Thank you for the laptop. Greatly appreciated,” she said. “Now I can send emails and print my letters from home.”

As you spring clean in the coming months, we encourage you to consider donating your outdated tech such as laptops and macbooks that can still be used instead of throwing it away or recycling.

Connect with SocialBox.Biz today to see how your donation can make a difference and to schedule
your pickup.

Previous update London, UK, 31st October 2024 –

SocialBox.Biz, a not for profit community interest company and a social enterprise that aims to bridge the digital divide and support vulnerable communities, has released its 2024 case study update for Age UK City of London.

This update highlights the impact of their laptop re-use program on the lives of individuals who can not afford a computer or software on their small pension like Carl, an older person and a volunteer at a local community centre.

Since receiving a laptop from SocialBox.Biz long-standing initiative, Carl has been able to make a significant difference in his community. He uses the laptop to help local residents find information, get online, and use the internet safely. He also uses it to assist people in booking appointments for advice. Additionally, the laptop has allowed him to continue his studies, enabling him to further contribute to the betterment of those around him.

Companies from the City of London area and other business districts are urged to contact  SocialBox.Biz when replacing their old tech so that more items can be reused before being sent for scrapping or recycling.

You create social impact by re-using large quantities of your company’s old but still functional tech equipment on an ongoing basis with SociaBox.Biz and support our self-sustaining social enterprise by paying for some of our commercial services.

The case study update showcases the positive impact of SocialBox.Biz’s laptop re-use service on individuals like Carl, who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities. With the support of SocialBox.Biz, Age UK City of London has been able to provide individuals with the necessary tools to access information, resources, and opportunities, ultimately improving their quality of life.

SocialBox.Biz Helps Another Volunteer Stay Connected with Older People’s Charity Through Laptop Re-use Service

The study focused on Brian, a volunteer for an older people’s charity, who had been struggling to stay connected due to his old PC breaking down. With the help of SocialBox.Biz,  Brian  who is a a British man in his mid 60s was able to receive a laptop, allowing him to continue his volunteering work and stay connected with his community.

Brian has been volunteering for an older people’s charity for the past five years. However, when his old PC stopped working, he found himself unable to get online and stay connected with the charity and the older people he had grown to care for. This also meant he was unable to moderate various groups he was an admin for, causing him to feel isolated and disconnected from his community.

Thanks to SocialBox.Biz’s laptop donation program, Brian was able to receive an upgraded laptop. This laptop not only allowed him to check emails and stay in touch with his volunteering work, but also served as a source of relaxation. Brian shared that he uses the laptop to watch TV and listen to music, making it an essential tool for his daily life. With internet access, he can now easily moderate the groups he is responsible for, ensuring that the older people he supports are receiving the help they need.

SocialBox.Biz’s mission to bridge the digital divide and support vulnerable communities aligns with Age UK City of London’s goal to improve the lives of older individuals in the city. This partnership has proven to be successful, with the October 31st 2024 case study update highlighting the positive outcomes of their collaboration. SocialBox.Biz continues to work towards their mission, and with the support of the community, they hope to make an even greater impact in the future.

Senior Social Impact Consultant at SocialBox.Biz, Carolyn Williams, said: “We take for granted that we can go online to catch up with friends and loved ones, access learning materials or do our shopping from the safety of our homes. This luxury is not afforded to the most vulnerable in society, such as the older people living on small pensions, with difficulties of getting around and unable to afford computer hardware or software. Please call SocialBox.Biz before scrapping or recycling your old tech so that we can check what can still be reused and donated.”

SocialBox.Biz Social Impact spokesperson, Carolyn Williams

The October 31st 2024 case study update for Age UK City of London is a testament to the power of collaboration and the positive impact it can have on individuals and communities. SocialBox.Biz remains committed to their mission and looks forward to continuing their partnership with Age UK City of London  and other local Age UKs in London and beyond to support those in need who can not afford computer hardware or software. For more information on SocialBox.Biz and their long-standing initiatives, please visit: https://www.socialbox.biz/corporate-impact/

SocialBox.Biz delivers new laptops to support isolated and disadvantaged individuals

Click on the link above for the previous post from Age UK London and case studies and pictures with other Age UK centers in other areas.

Over the years SocialBoxBiz enabled many London Age UK clients to stay connected with their loved ones, access online resources, and feel less isolated. The laptop has become a valuable tool for staying connected and engaged. If you work for a company or an organisations please contact us today to find out how to participate with your old but still usable tech before scrapping or recycling all of it.

SOCIALBOX.BIZ TEAMS WITH AGE UK LONDON TO LAUNCH NEW INITIATIVE “LAPTOPS FOR OLDER PEOPLE”