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2econd chance is a not-for-profit computer recycling company offering meaningful work -based training for people furthest away from the job market. Unwanted machines are donated to us by schools, individuals and businesses which are used as part of our training programme which focuses on the fundamentals of computer hardware and software management. Under the guidance of our specialist staff, trainees learn how refurbish a machine including how to wipe data, install windows 10, partition disks and replace RAM and hard drives. Once refurbished machines are either sold at affordable prices making them more accessible and helping to bridge the digital divide with a percentage being donated back into the community through our partners to ensure they reach people in need. Our successes in our first 12 months include relationship building with referral partners, building our current trainee team to 25, over 1,000 machines donated to us of which 25% have been given back into the community.
We have ambitious plans to grow and within the next few months we have a number of very exciting new initiatives launching. As part of Barnet Get Online week in August we will be introducing laptop drop-off points in all 14 libraries across the Borough which will both help to spread the word about what we do and reduce the number of machines locally going to landfill. Based on feedback from our trainees we are currently working to become a City and Guilds Centre so that we can offer certified qualifications to our trainees. Once an approved centre we are also looking to work with special schools across London to offer 16 – 19 year-olds IT training to develop their schools and support with employability.
As a new organisation we are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Tech for Good Award as this demonstrates just how far we have come over the past 12 months and how much we have achieved.
