A Castle Douglas technology charity is eyeing up expansion plans after experiencing high demand for a new service.
The IT Centre only opened its new refurbishment suite last week to up-cycle used mobiles, laptops and tablets.
The project has environmental and social benefits – cutting landfill while providing devices to those in need.
But the scale of the response from donors and recipients has manager Jackie Williams contemplating an upgrade – only days after launching the scheme.
She told the News: “We are working with South of Scotland Enterprise to put together a business plan to expand what we are doing.
“We need to see if there’s potential to do that because it would involve taking on more people.
“Things are at a very early stage – we have only had one meeting.
“But there is nobody else in Dumfries and Galloway that is doing the same thing.”
Jackie added: “There has definitely been an increase in demand for refurbished devices due to the cost of living crisis.
“We have been encouraged by the number of items donated by the public and the people who are receiving them.
“Since we started, we have already refurbished 240 items.”
Requests to the IT Centre have included referrals from the local NHS public health improvement team and social work mental health charities.
Demand for devices has also come from refugee charity MOOL and the Dumfries and Galloway resettlement team supporting displace Ukrainians.
Jackie said: “There’s a steady demand as well from other members of the public who don’t have much money.
“We have been supported by Dumfries and Galloway College and have had donations from Qubiti, a local Dumfries
business.
“We got some funding from Stewartry area committee and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ device refurbishment support fund.
“But we continually provide support to people with technical issues they may have with phones, tablets or laptops.
“And currently we are running at more than 1,000 appointments a year.”
Castle Douglas High School fifth year student Craig Brown, 16, has been volunteering at the hub for two years.
He works with refurbishment and support specialist Allan Smith to upgrade various devices for use.
Craig said: “The hard drive is removed, all personal data is wiped and the device is them reset.
“Older devices need a bit more work which involves upgrading storage and memory.
“After than you install the software, apps and so on.
“The project has been very successful and we have supplied devices to all kinds of organisations and individuals on lower incomes.
“They are all given free of charge with people asked to give a donation if they can.”
Craig, from the Bridge of Dee, added: “Initially I volunteered here as part of my Duke of Edinburgh bronze award.
“But I enjoyed it that much I decided to stay on.
“The refurbishment scheme has made a massive difference to a lot of people. Having a device means you are able to apply for a job, contact people and learn.
“As a society we are becoming more and more
isolated.
“It’s really important that people can keep in contact and keep in touch at a time when some services are being withdrawn.
“Refurbishing is good for the environment too.
“We are part of the circular economy, enabling IT equipment to be reused which otherwise would end up in
landfill.”
