I’m Natasha Early, a Business Development and Partnership Manager at Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity. Since 2019 I’ve contributed to our mission to fix the digital divide.

What we do

Good Things Foundation offers a community-based approach to fixing the digital divide, with free device, data and digital skills support for digitally excluded people. We’re able to reach millions of people through our National Digital Inclusion Network; thousands of community organisations across the UK giving free training, resources and funding to communities facing barriers to the digital world.

What I do

Over the last year I’ve led on growing ‘in kind’ corporate and public sector partnerships for one of our three core services - the National Device Bank - which gives people who need it a free device. With 1.5m people in the UK without access to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, the Device Bank is a vital link between organisations that need to responsibly dispose of disused tech and those people without access to a suitable device. Our primary objective is to collect and refurbish devices so they’re functional and ready for safe use, making sure we provide data and skills support where needed alongside it.

Because the Device Bank is unique in its scaled model of distributing refurbished devices, I’ve had to learn new partnership development skills, collaborating with prospective partners and encouraging behaviour change while driving contributions of usable tech to the Device Bank. The ideal scenario for me is that a partner will embed the Device Bank in their
standard IT asset disposal process.

A great example of this working well is our partnership with the Metropolitan Police - we collaborate not only with them, but also with their IT Managed Service Provider on planned tech refreshes, getting devices in the hands of digitally excluded Londoners. Through this partnership we've collected over 20,000 assets in the last 2 years.

Commitment to Sustainability and addressing ESG Challenges

One of the standout features of the National Device Bank is its commitment to sustainability. It definitely appeals to my personal values of doing good business, and as a charity any harm to the environment created by our purpose mustn’t outweigh the benefit - so it’s vital I have an eye on sustainability in our partnerships.

By refurbishing and repurposing devices, we contribute to a circular economy that reduces electronic waste. It’s estimated that the UK generates around 1.4 million tonnes of e-waste annually, and a significant portion of that waste is not recycled properly. Our Device Bank tackles this pressing environmental issue at the same time as providing necessary resources to people in the most need.

I’ve had a steep learning curve as a Business Development Manager learning about what constitutes an efficient and environmentally friendly business model, optimising logistics but also while minimising the amount of e-waste collected.

Partner Learnings

Working on this programme has meant collaborating with new and different stakeholders in partner organisations across the supply chain, and it has increased my understanding of the challenges our partners are facing when it comes to managing e-waste.

We’ve learnt that our contributing partners not only need to act responsibly but also report on their impact through their Environment, Social, Governance reporting, so aligning with and meeting these requirements has become essential in demonstrating our commitment to responsible and impactful charity work.

Social Impact

The social impact of the National Device Bank is profound. In a recent survey of our network members 74% of survey respondents cited a lack of suitable digital devices to give to people they support as a barrier to their organisation being able to help more people become digitally included.

We’ve also learnt a lot about what kinds of devices are most needed and I’ve personally been taken aback by the scale of demand. I’ve had to refine our business development approach to focus on large scale employers with significant tech estates because there’s no chance of meeting the demand with this model unless these organisations come on board. But the tech is out there ready to be reused, I’m sure of that!

Governance and Accountability

Good governance is essential for the integrity and success of a charity. Reassurance around data security continues to be one of the biggest challenges to overcome in scaling the Device Bank - and I never expected to spend so much time talking to IT and Legal officers in a charity partnership role - but we have all the relevant credentials and processes in place here giving me the confidence to tackle those conversations head on.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to scale the National Device Bank, I’m optimistic about our future impact as we head towards some significant milestones from both a social and environmental perspective.

The journey ahead is filled with opportunities for enhancing our impact, establishing new partnerships and further scaling the Device Bank. Together, we can fix the digital divide and create a future where everyone has the digital access they need.
For more information about the National Device Bank and how you can get involved, please visit our website at Good Things Foundation.

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