‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ project showcased at Oxfordshire’s inclusive economy partnership event

The ‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ project featured highly in ‘The Inclusive Economy in Action’ event in early May, organised by Aspire Oxfordshire in support of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership (OIEP), the Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership (OSEP) and Oxfordshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ Project Manager Ben Tuppen presented the project’s purpose, operation and impact to over 65 delegates representing businesses, public sector partners and community organisations from across Oxfordshire, sharing how they can support efforts to tackle digital exclusion in the county.

Attendees also heard from other local organisations including OSEP, Amey, the Owned by Oxford project and the Team Oxford and Hire2Inspire teams from Aspire on how to take practical steps to realise an inclusive local economy in Oxfordshire, including procuring services and products with social value in mind, empowering employees to volunteer for local good causes, recruiting inclusively and getting involved in community wealth building.

To date, ‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ has refurbished and passed on more than 650 donated digital devices, helping school children, families, refugees and asylum seekers, young carers, older people, disabled people and people experiencing homelessness to get online. The project has been supported by a variety of local organisations and businesses, including:

• Activate Learning
• Asylum Welcome
• CAE
• Nominet
• Oxford City Council
• Oxford Community Action
• Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action
• Oxfordshire Mind
• Oxford PharmaGenesis
• Taylor & Francis
• West Oxfordshire District Council

The demand for devices however is unrelenting and the ‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ project team is keen to continue stepping up to respond to need, including for the recent arrivals of Ukrainian refugees. 

The project can accept laptops up to 10 years old – and tablets and mobile phones up to 5 years old – for refurbishment and redistribution. So, if you’re an individual wanting to give your device a new purpose, through to a large employer thinking how you can use your devices for social good, please consider ‘Getting Oxfordshire Online’ and get in touch today!