Chloe's Story

Staying connected as
a young care leaver.

Digital exclusion was seriously limiting Chloe's chances of building an independent, stable life.

Two million young people in the UK do not have access to a laptop or PC at home; affecting access to education, social activities and more.

Chloe is 19 and recently left the care system. Like many young care leavers, she’s navigating adult life largely on her own – finding housing, managing money, studying, and trying to stay connected to friends. When she enrolled on an online college course, she was determined to build a better future. But there was one huge barrier: she didn’t have a laptop of her own.

Young people leaving care are far more likely to face financial hardship, unstable housing, and limited family support. This means:

Buying a laptop is often impossible, even when education depends on it.
Digital access in shared or temporary accommodation can be unreliable, unsafe, or non‑existent.
Lack of devices compounds existing inequalities in education, employment, and mental health.

For care leavers, digital exclusion isn’t just inconvenient; it can seriously limit their chances of building an independent, stable life.

Without a laptop, Chloe tried to complete her assignments on her phone. Simple tasks – writing essays, uploading documents, joining online lessons – became long, frustrating battles. She often missed deadlines because she couldn’t access course materials in time. She felt constantly behind and started to question whether she was capable at all.

Outside of her course, Chloe also struggled to stay in touch with friends and support networks. Social isolation crept in, and with it came anxiety, low mood, and a growing sense of hopelessness.

The Challenge

As a care leaver without family support to fall back on, Chloe felt she was failing before she’d even started.

Chloe was referred to Tech‑Takeback Foundation and assessed for our Laptops for All scheme. We provided her with a refurbished laptop tailored to her course requirements, pre‑loaded with the software she needed to complete her assignments. We also made sure she had support with digital skills so that she felt confident using it.

How we helped

Change a life today

Your support can help young care leavers, especially those with no family or support to fall back on, to develop their confidence and independent living skills.

Donate laptops to support young care leavers
Partner with us to sponsor devices and training
Apply for a laptop for yourself, for a loved one or for someone you're supporting.

“My laptop has everything I need for college. It's great talking to mates online too. "

Six months later, everything looks different. Chloe can now:

Log into her online classes from home
Research and submit assignments on time
Communicate regularly with tutors and support workers
Stay connected with friends through social platforms and video calls

Her confidence has grown, her college attendance and performance have improved, and she has moved into more secure housing.

Social value of reuse

Using HACT Social Value Insights, the social value generated through Chloe's refurbished laptop is

£27,700

Life with a laptop

“Providing a laptop for a complete stranger - that's an amazing thing to do. Thank you so much.”

Chloe tells us her mood is more stable and she feels hopeful about the future.

Case studies are based on real beneficiary journeys. Some names and identifying details have been altered to protect confidentiality, but each story represents the genuine challenges faced by the communities we serve.

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partner with us

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