Boots UK is proudly partnering with the Business in the Community’s (BITC) National Business Response Network(NBRN), to pilot the charity’s first public Tech Donation Appeal, in its home-town of Nottingham.

Helping to support disadvantaged children, teenagers and families who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pioneering tech appeal will help collect, repurpose and redistribute working electronic items to those in immediate need.

With half of all households in the UK having at least one unused electronic device, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone¹, Boots is encouraging everyone to get involved. As well as donating its own obsolete devices, any pre-loved items² that are donated by its colleagues and local Nottinghamshire community via Boots collections points³ will go on to directly impact those living in the East Midlands.

Morag Punton, Head of CSR, Boots UK, said: “Boots is a business that has been grounded in care for over 170 years. As an essential retailer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been proud to step forward and support the most vulnerable in our communities. We are pleased to partner with the NBRN’s tech donation appeal to help those experiencing the digital divide during this challenging time.” 

Amanda Mackenzie OBE, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said: “The existing digital divide in the UK has been blown wide open by the pandemic. Despite the best efforts of government, it is businesses which can close this gap and end the isolation increasingly faced by school children, families and the newly redundant; I am proud that Boots and other companies are answering that call through the National Business Response Tech Appeal. By launching this pilot, Boots has shown real vision and set a high bar for response business.”

In recognition of its on-going commitment to operating as a responsible business, Boots was named the BITC’s Responsible Business of the Year in 2019. The award celebrates the innovative ways that businesses are making a sustained difference and transforming communities across the UK.

Notes to editors

• Boots UK’s Tech Donation Appeal has been launched as part of Nottingham City Council’s 28 Day Challenge. Every day from 1-28 August 2020, Nottingham City Council is sharing a selection of free and fun activities lead by different partners and businesses in the city, which teaches people how to reduce their environmental impact.
• Volunteers from RE:ACT, a UK-based disaster response charity and a network partner of the NBRN, are using their expertise to support with the running of Boots UK’s tech donation points in Nottingham.
  
  Richard Sharp, CEO RE:ACT, said: “Throughout the past five months of RE:ACT’s involvement in the UK’s COVID-19 response, we’ve been working hard in collaboration with the Voluntary and Communities Sector Emergencies Partnership and NBRN identifying and assessing unmet needs as soon as they emerge, and quickly responding to fulfil them. This tech donation scheme is another example of addressing an emerging problem that the general public may not be aware of, and once again demonstrates the powerful partnerships and collaboration between organisations like RE:ACT, BITC and Boots that’s helping to alleviate the COVID crisis here in the UK.”
• ¹  Source: BBC, August 2019
• ²  Donation guidelines:

-      Accepted devices include phones, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets or iPads. Printers cannot be accepted.

-      All items must be donated with their charger.

-      Each donation may be packaged singularly or with a number of items.

-      Before donating your device, please check that it is in a working condition, less than 8 years old, and unlocked.

-      Please remove any personal information from the devices; if possible, please carry out a factory reset. Business in the Community, nor the recipient organisation, can take responsibility for any data left on the devices.

-      Any donated device that cannot be used (e.g. due to damage) will be recycled responsibly.

• ³ Details for Boots collection points are as follows:

General public:

Date: Saturday 29th August and Saturday 5th September

Time: Between 2-4pm

Location: Sneinton Market, Nottingham City Centre.

Boots colleagues:

Date: Wednesday 26 and Saturday 29 August, Wednesday 2 and Saturday 5 September

Time: Wednesdays - 10am-12pm   Saturdays - 1-3pm

Location: Boots D90 Reception, 1 Thane Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG90 1BS.