Turning retired devices into digital opportunity

Digital transformation is not just about new technology. It is also about changing the way we think about the value of technology across its lifecycle, extending usefulness, reducing environmental impact, and driving digital opportunities in communities. 

When RDaSH was seeking to launch its Community Digital poverty programme, and its “Digital in Mind” approach, CDW UK was the ideal partner. Built around the principle of turning retired devices into digital opportunities through redirecting value from end-of-life trust devices for local digital inclusion. The programme supports RDaSH to use the value made from end-of-life devices to help local people experiencing digital poverty. 

Calling together partners to create a practical route to impact

CDW UK organises the programme providing the foundations for a joined-up, practical, and repeatable model. The process brings together RDaSH, Restore Technologies, Lenovo, community partners and charities, with CDW UK acting as the enabler across IT asset disposal (ITAD), procurement, storage, distribution, and value-added services. 

Activation begins with the trust’s IT Support Services team collecting and consolidating end-of-life devices. These are collected securely by Restore Technologies’ ITAD experts before being data wiped, assessed, refurbished or recycled by their accredited facility. The income generated from the workflow is returned into RDaSH’s IT Services and used to buy Lenovo refurbished devices with CDW UK storing, preparing, and delivering the equipment.

Distribution works on a pull-based model with community partners and charities across Doncaster, Rotherham and North Lincolnshire sharing needs with the RDaSH team. These demand triggers define the requirements for Lenovo refurbished devices which CDW UK can share either directly to a person’s home or to the partner for onward distribution. The success of this model is underpinned by strong, trusted supplier relationships and long‑standing partnerships which guarantee assurance, capability, and flexibility needed to securely dispose of assets, reinvest value and distribute refurbished devices at pace.

From responsible technology use to digital opportunity

Built on standard NHS asset disposal processes, established national procurement frameworks, and mature supplier ecosystems, scalability and repeatability are key tenants of the programme. RDaSH has collected and returned 28 pallets of retired digital devices so far, generating a fund value of £14,000. The Community Digital Poverty and Digital in Mind programme aligns with CDW’s social impact ambition to create digital opportunities by providing access, building digital skills and creating opportunities to connect. They also support RDaSH Promise 6 by helping to reduce the impact of poverty and digital exclusion.