Member News
A learning and development business providing workshops and trainings to learners in the North East has been equipped with a fleet of Certified Refurbished ThinkPad laptops by Lenovo and the Big Issue.
FIRST runs accredited courses and workshops to develop skills in under-resourced and underrepresented communities — including refugees, domestic abuse survivors, and individuals with mental or physical disabilities — gaining the tools to achieve personal stability, drive social progress, and contribute to inclusive economic growth.
As an investee of the Big Issue’s social investment arm, Big Issue Invest, they’ve received new technology for their learners to get online and tap into the digital world.
Charlotte Windebank, Managing Director of FIRST, said: “Receiving the Lenovo laptops through the partnership with Big Issue will significantly boost FIRST’s ability to support students, graduates, jobseekers and early-stage founders. As we scale, they will equip our growing team without adding financial burden, while also ensuring that learners without IT access - especially underrepresented and under-resourced founders - can build enterprise skills and the courage to pursue their ideas.
“With reliable technology, we can deliver more inclusive and flexible workshops, enable virtual mentoring and coaching, and remove key barriers to participation so more people can gain courage, explore self-employment and shape their careers.”
Other Big Issue investees that successfully applied to receive the devices include a charity dedicated to fighting digital poverty in Greater Manchester, a prison rehabilitation programme, and a London-based filmmaker with an outreach programme for young people to learn about film.
Approximately one in five low-income households in England have no internet access1, highlighting a clear and urgent divide between opportunity and access. This access depends on connectivity and on the right hardware – a reliable laptop is essential for online tasks, from education and job applications to entertainment and communication.
Charities and social enterprises are operating with tight budgets and limited tech capacity. Sector research points to squeezed finances as the biggest brake on digital progress, including difficulty funding core infrastructure and tools.
Big Issue Invest has invested more than £100 million in UK businesses with a social mission over the past two decades. It currently supports a portfolio of more than 140 businesses, who in turn provide life-changing services and support for a combined total of nearly 2 million (1.88mil) Brits.
Russell Blackman, Managing Director at Big Issue, said: “It’s great to be backing our investees with Lenovo’s Certified Refurbished laptops at such an exciting time for Big Issue Invest, which celebrates its 20th anniversary of investing in life-changing organisations later this year.
“This technology will open up opportunities for them in a number of ways; from helping their staff expand their reach, to giving their beneficiaries access to the digital world which so many people living in poverty are locked out of.”
Aidan Griffin, Solutions and Services Group leader at Lenovo UK & Ireland, said: “Technology is only truly transformative when access is equal, and we all have a part to play in making that a reality. Through our partnership with the Big Issue, refurbished laptops are reaching inspirational organisations across the UK, delivering practical tools while advancing sustainability and digital equity. This initiative is an important step in tackling digital exclusion, aiming to inspire collaboration that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and creates lasting pathways to opportunity.”
The project also aligns with national efforts such as the UK Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan and complements the ongoing work of organisations like Good Things Foundation and Digital Poverty Alliance in removing barriers to digital participation across the UK.
In the coming months, Big Issue will be running a series of films, features, and social media content, telling the stories of Big Issue’s investees who are benefitting from this initiative with Lenovo.
Using Certified Refurbished laptops keeps equipment in use for longer, cuts e-waste and helps reduce the environmental impact of IT procurement.
