Made it to Milan

Anne Marie and Simon in Arles

 

“Anne Marie is the local Hairdresser in Arles and has a real heart for people both locally and wider afield, including the support of Computers for Charities Christmas shoebox appeal. Having galvanised her clients to fill our van with warm clothing and shoeboxes, she also remains quite active in the local community as well as aiding the building of a primary school in Mali north Africa.

Now with over 1000 miles on the clock we arrive in Milan for our final visit of this trip before undertaking an early start in the morning back to the UK via Switzerland, Belgium and France”

 

Eastbourne Lifestyle Renault provide aid to Computers for Charities

Simon Rooksby receiving our new van from Scott Warner or Eastbourne Lifestyle

Hailsham based charity Computers for Charities have received a welcome boost from Eastbourne Renault dealership Lifestyle Eastbourne with a new vehicle to aid the charity’s numerous activities.

Back in August due to age and a serious MOT failure the charity was forced to let go of it’s longest-serving vehicle for scrappage.

Chairman Simon Rooksby says, “it was a tough experience for us to have to let go of this old workhorse, whilst we had the added challenge of how it could be replaced, especially given the limitation on our funds.
It has taken some months, however, thanks to Lifestyle Europe’s great support, this has now been made possible. Our new Renault Trafic is also aiding the charity as it launches a new area of service and support to the voluntary sector through “Recycling for Charities”, an off shoot of Computers for Charities. Recycling for Charities is offering IT recycling solutions primarily for the benefit of the Voluntary sector”

Simon says, “it was back in 2007 that new laws were introduced affecting the disposal and reuse of all electrical equipment. Whereas in the past charities, schools and hospitals have benefitted from various exemptions in respect of disposal this is now no longer the case as charges can be incurred.

Our hope is that Recycling for Charities will aid with this process whilst endeavouring to reduce costs for cash-strapped voluntary organisations as well as benefitting the environment.

The new van is currently receiving its first major road test as it collects warm clothing and Christmas shoeboxes in the South of France and Italy, for Computers for Charities annual Christmas appeal

For further information email: info@recyclingforcharities.org or call 01323 840641

Lifestyle Eastbourne can be found here

Arrived at Arles

Its been quite a day on the road since 5.30am and finally arriving Arles 7pm UK time, but here we are all in one piece 800miles covered and rearing to get some sleep……

Christmas Shoebox appeal underway

Our christmas shoebox appeal is well underway with donations coming in from all over the country.

We are back on the road despite missing the early morning alarm to catch the 7am crossing for the 800 run to Arles in the Camarge region for our next collection plus testing out the charities new traffic van

Charity launches new educational opportunities

Organisation: Computers for Charities
Contact: Simon Rooksby
Position: Chairman / Founder
Tel: 01323 840641
Date: 8th November 2011

Our new NVQ Training centre.

For Hailsham based charity “Computers for Charities” the launch on Friday 4th November of its new Computer refurbishment diploma course represented a fitting final stage given the four years that it has taken to develop, test and gain accreditation.

Simon Rooksby chairman says,”This is very much a first for the charity and definitely not the last. However we remain very pleased with the achievement that has been gained here.
As an organisation our history has not been that of reinventing the wheel, but very much as pioneers with the development of a range of support and projects. This course indeed is quite unique and we hope especially in this current economic climate will be of benefit locally and nationally by providing the opportunity for skilling and retraining it will be very suited for usage in colleges, training centres as well as prison education where the concept was originally developed from our long standing association with HMP Lewes and a shortage of appropriate vocational courses.”

Computers for Charities has also gained exam centre status allowing organisations to use our materials under the charities umbrella whilst also shortly running the course in the charities workshop in Hailsham.

Simon says “this experience certainly provided a challenging learning curve for us, especially when you are told by statutory bodies that our quest was not achievable.”

However for the volunteers and funders attending, including Crosslink, Hailsham Town Council, Lottery, Waitrose, Reed Business Information, CompTIA and Open Learning Partnership, TESCO’s and Haywards carpet, HMP Lewes this was far from the truth

For further information please contact Simon: Tel 01323 840641 or email: Simon@computersforcharities.org

Visit CfC on the Web http://www.computersforcharities.org email us at info@computersforcharities.org

Charities meeting with Prime Minister thwarted

Date: 9th September 2011

A rare opportunity for Hailsham based charity “Computers for Charities” to meet Prime Minister David Cameron has been thwarted.

Following an invitation from the Moscow City Council chairman and founder of Computers for Charities was due to travel overland by the charities motorcycle this week to meet officials within the City Council regarding social enterprise projects, including the possible development of projects similar to Computers for Charities to aid unemployment and skills training.

Coinciding with Simon’s visit is the arrival of the Prime Minister on Monday 12th September who it was hoped would meet Simon on his arrival to Moscow.

Sadly the 35,000 miles covered over the past 12 months have proved too much for the machine, which ground to a halt on Simon’s recent visit to Scotland and Shetland Islands when meeting organisations and supporters of the charities Christmas shoebox appeal.

Simon visiting Shetland on the last trip for the BMW Bike

Simon says the donated 16 year old BMW motorcycle has proved a real boon in enabling us to aid more organisations and projects across the UK and across Eastern Europe.

Simon says I remain totally gutted at missing this opportunity to meet the Prime Minister on behalf of the charity and the community.

Meanwhile the future of the machine currently in the Brighton workshop of sponsors Chandlers BMW is being determined by Manager Emmet Reidy and his team, however advice offered by Emmet given the nature of the conditions experienced is that a newer model be commissioned, and as such has personally approached the BMW motorcycle division Motorrad, given his support and appreciation of our work but sadly to no avail at this time.

For further information or to assist please call Simon: Tel: 01323 840641 or email: simon@computersforcharities.org

Fit for a king!

And now the rear view of the stand. home for the next five days. Fit for a king