What is it?

The purpose of this guide is to bring to light some of the methods and approaches deployed by boroughs and their partners for sourcing digital devices during the pandemic. It is a step-by-step practical tool outlining key steps and recommendations to using crowdsourcing and crowdfunding as methods for sourcing digital devices. The associated case studies highlight different boroughs’ experiences and lessons learned with each of those methods. The approaches described here are by no means an exhaustive list of all the different methods used to source digital devices.

Why did we create it?

We created this guide because previous work in tackling device poverty revealed that not all boroughs have disused or retired devices they can upcycle / refurbish and distribute to residents who don’t have access to a device.

Who should use it?

Anyone tasked with tackling device poverty can use this guide and associated case studies to inform their decision making when it comes to tackling device poverty.