Community IT
About Community IT
Community IT grew from practical repair work during the COVID pandemic, when Microsmith Electronics helped Usk Mouth Rotary refurbish donated laptops for pupils learning from home.
That project showed how much useful technology was sitting unused, and how much difference it could make when repaired, refurbished and placed back into the community.
Where the idea began
Built from a real local need
Community IT exists to collect unwanted IT equipment, securely process it, refurbish what can be reused, and help suitable devices find a second life with schools, charities, community groups and local people.
Community IT was formed in 2022 after Microsmith Electronics Ltd became involved with a local lockdown project called Laptops 4 Home Learning.
During the COVID pandemic, Usk Mouth Rotary contacted Microsmith Electronics to ask whether we could help refurbish donated laptops for pupils who needed support with learning from home. The aim was to turn unused laptops into Chromebook-style devices that could be gifted to pupils at local high schools.
It was exactly the kind of project we believed in. Microsmith Electronics already worked closely with schools and local authorities across South Wales, repairing iPads, laptops, Chromebooks, PCs, projectors and large touchscreen displays. Through that work, we had seen first-hand how important reliable technology had become for education, communication and everyday life.
We were delighted to support the Laptops 4 Home Learning project and refurbished the donated laptops free of charge. The project showed what could be achieved when unwanted equipment, practical repair skills and community support came together.
The first request
Usk Mouth Rotary asked whether Microsmith Electronics could help refurbish donated laptops for pupils who needed support with learning from home during the pandemic. The project became a practical example of how unused technology could be given a second life.
Repair experience
Microsmith Electronics already worked with schools and local authorities across South Wales, repairing iPads, laptops, Chromebooks, PCs, projectors and large touchscreen displays. That experience helped put us in the right position to support the project.
Reuse in action
The donated laptops were refurbished free of charge and prepared as Chromebook-style devices that could be gifted to pupils. It showed that with the right checks and repairs, unwanted IT could still have real value.
Responsible reuse
A better route for unwanted IT
After the project, we began to see a wider opportunity. We were already accepting unwanted IT equipment from schools in one council area, refurbishing suitable devices and helping them find a second life in neighbouring schools and community settings.
Over time, other council-run bodies and organisations also donated equipment, which helped us support schools, homelessness projects, refugee charities and other local causes.
Community IT was created to give that work a clearer structure and purpose.
A sustainable CIC model
Community IT aims to reuse and refurbish suitable equipment wherever practical, but not every device can be donated and not every item can be refurbished. Some equipment may be too old, damaged or unsuitable for reuse.
Some refurbished items may also be sold to help fund the CIC’s running costs, replacement parts, repairs, collections and future community work. This helps make the project sustainable rather than relying entirely on grant funding.
What we stand for
- Reuse before recycling
- Practical community support
- Secure and responsible handling
- Honest communication
- Local social value
Work with us
Have unwanted IT equipment?
If your business, school, charity or organisation has unused IT equipment, Community IT can help assess whether it can be reused, refurbished, donated, sold to support the CIC, or recycled responsibly.