Oliver's Story
New job. New home. New life.
A laptop helped Oliver rebuild his confidence, reconnect with his family and find work.
36% of the potential UK workforce lack the essential digital skills for work.
Almost 20% lack even basic foundation skills.
Oliver worked as a plasterer for most of his adult life. After a serious back injury, he could no longer do the heavy physical work his job demanded. With no alternative qualifications and little experience of using computers, he struggled to find new work. As debts built up and his situation worsened, Oliver eventually became homeless.
The Challenge
Living in temporary accommodation, Oliver had no access to a computer of his own. He felt left behind in an increasingly digital world. Job applications were online. Benefit forms were online. Training courses were online. Even staying in touch with his daughter was difficult without reliable access to the internet.
Without digital access or digital skills, Oliver couldn’t see a way out. His confidence plummeted and he felt trapped.
“My life just fell apart. I was a plasterer. I didn’t know how to do anything else.”
People who are homeless often face:
No safe place to keep devices charged and secure
Limited or no internet access
Low digital confidence, especially if work has previously been manual or offline
This makes it far harder to access support services, apply for jobs, manage benefits, and stay connected with family or friends.
How we helped
Tech‑Takeback Foundation gave Oliver a refurbished laptop and internet access, and supported him with digital skills training. This gave him the tools he needed to:
Search and apply for jobs and housing online
Complete training courses to build new skills
Reconnect with his daughter through video calls
“This laptop was a Godsend. I'm back in contact with my daughter, I did some online training, and I'm starting a new job.”
For people experiencing homelessness, a laptop can be the bridge between crisis and recovery.
Donate laptops to support people experiencing homelessness
Partner with us to sponsor devices and training
Apply for a laptop if you’re experiencing homelessness or working with someone who is.
Change a life today
With his new skills and access to opportunities, Oliver secured a job and is now moving into a new flat. His laptop has become a lifeline for work, for staying in touch with family, and for managing his day‑to‑day life.
Life with a laptop
“I wish I could thank the person who donated their laptop. They probably saved my life.”
Social value of reuse
Using HACT Social Value Insights, the social value generated through Oliver's refurbished laptop is
£48,000
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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Digital exclusion affects people from all walks of life, for all sorts of reasons. Whatever the circumstances, Tech-Takeback Foundation is here to help, with laptops and support packages that are as individual as the people they're designed to support.
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