A new IT recycling scheme has given social housing tenants across Glasgow and Renfrewshire free access to quality laptops, iPads and tablets.

Spearheaded by the Wheatley Group, the programme known as Techshare involves old staff devices upcycled and passed to tenants who cannot afford to buy computer equipment.

The devices are provided help tenants who are struggling financially get online to study, apply for jobs and training, managing their welfare benefits or just to keep in touch with friends and family.

The programme is run by Wheatley Foundation and has supported Wheatley customers across its communities in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

Professor Paddy Gray OBE, Chair of Wheatley Foundation, said: “As we celebrate Zero Waste Week, it’s great to see how programmes such as Techshare can help the planet and tenants.

“Techshare prevents computer devices from going to landfill and instead enriches the lives of tenants who cannot afford to buy a device and go online.”

Wheatley sends the devices for quality checks and, those that can be upcycled, are cleared and rebuilt as good as new.

The news comes following the Scottish Government’s announcement that they were set to pause funding for its free iPad scheme, launched during the COVID pandemic to help more people get online.

(Image: Omolara Lasisi)

Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenant Omolara Lasisi, 48, her partner Dara and their daughter Oyinda have benefited from the 130 upcycled devices passed to tenants so far.

Omolara said: “We’re really grateful for being given two laptops, as we know how expensive they can be.

“I’m currently studying health care at Glasgow Clyde College, so having a laptop has been really helpful for my studies.

“My daughter is also moving to Aberdeen soon to study International Business and Spanish at university, so having a laptop will be really important.”