Aberdeen-based technology and cybersecurity services company Nimbus Blue has shown its support of the local community with a donation of refurbished computing equipment to the charitable organisation, SensationALL.
This latest donation marks over ten years of Nimbus Blue’s ongoing support for local charities in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire areas through the provision of essential technology equipment.
With a commitment to responsible practices in the Information Technology (IT) sector, Nimbus Blue started its equipment donation scheme to reduce and minimise electronic waste and promote digital inclusivity and access to technology for all.
All used equipment is collected from customers and typically includes laptops, desktops, monitors, servers, and network equipment. Nimbus Blue offers this to charities where equipment is in good working order, relatively modern, and has permission from the previous owner for the donation to be made.
SensationALL provides therapy-based activities and specialist support for children and adults living with any support need or disability from their centres in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, and Rosemount, Aberdeen.
Reflecting on the recent donation of Dell computers and monitors, Katie McNutt, CEO of SensationALL, said: “As a self-funded charity, we rely solely on donations of IT equipment for our offices and staff, as a budget for new office tech simply does not exist. Some members of the team are still using equipment donated over 10 years ago!
These new, modern, faster units have been a breath of fresh air for the team and will be a big support to us going forward to help us keep up with demand and enquiries, with over 400 new individuals registering with us in the last year alone! Huge thanks to the team at Nimbus Blue for this incredible donation; it will go a long way and has made an immediate impact in improving our day-to-day operations.”
Before making any donations, Nimbus Blue ensures that all equipment is thoroughly erased and in good working order to meet security and operational standards. This guarantees that the recipients receive reliable and safe devices, ready for immediate use.
David Tawse, Managing Director of Nimbus Blue, said: "As the founder of Nimbus Blue, I was always astounded by the amount of perfectly functional IT equipment discarded by businesses. The common practice of destroying this equipment for security reasons seemed like a missed opportunity, as there are secure methods to reset and repurpose these devices for others.”
If no charitable organisations take up the equipment donation, or the equipment is not in good order, Nimbus Blue offers it for free on open markets, such as Freegle. In this instance, the equipment will typically go to students and educational organisations for research, testing, or refurbishment. This helps to avoid sending good equipment to landfill. However, should any equipment remain untaken by either charity or the open market, it is sent to Nimbus Blue’s recycling partners for responsible disposal.
David said: “Since establishing Nimbus Blue in 2010, I have been committed to ensuring we do not follow the wasteful approach of businesses disposing of electronic equipment that is still in working order or can be used for other purposes. We take on the responsibility of decommissioning their equipment and finding new homes for it wherever possible and encourage our customers to join us in this effort.”
Any local Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire charities that would like to be added to the notification list when equipment is available can request this via the general enquiry form on the Nimbus Blue website: https://www.nimbus-blue.com/about-us/contact/.