This year, University of Westminster alumnus Peter Paduh’s company SocialBox.biz celebrates a decade of making an impact in social and tech innovation by donating computers to vulnerable groups.
Socialbox.biz is a community interest company that bridges the growing digital divide in the UK. They reuse and donate used computers and laptops to vulnerable groups, from low-income pensioners, refugees integrating into British society and people leaving homelessness and moving into permanent housing, ensuring better outcomes with access to technology to those in need. They have previously delivered over 1,000 unused laptops to charities across the country.
For the past ten years, SocialBox.Biz has offered a viable tech innovation solution to increase sustainability while helping those in need. As the company celebrates a decade and continues its work, its upcoming events such as Earth Day 2024, Refugee Week 2024, Tech Week 2024, and Environment Day 2024 will promote reduced Scope 3 emissions, which are emissions indirectly caused by an organisation, while providing tangible benefits such as reused laptops and scholarships for refugees.
Peter Paduh completed his Computer Science BSc Honours course in the early 2000s. His inspiration to start SocialBox.Biz came from a turning point early in his life, when he came to the UK as a refugee from the Balkans in 1993 and received a free computer not long after he arrived. In 2021 Peter Paduh was recognised in the The Independent's Happy List for partnering with charities and helping hundreds of vulnerable people to stay connected with their friends and family and avoid loneliness by providing them with unused laptops.
Peter Paduh said: “Carbon footprints and emissions are under high scrutiny, and there are calls for lowered Scope 3 emissions. At the same time, there are people in need across the United Kingdom, including homeless people and refugees who need computers to get back on their feet and integrate into British society. Our initiative can help with all of these.
“These populations, along with the elderly, need ways to communicate with loved ones, gain employment, and pursue an education. We're glad more and more Westminster based companies and beyond are making us part of their sustainability strategy and supporting our community interest company again whilst solving their social impact problems and reducing emissions.”
Peter is inviting businesses to join the SocialBox.Biz initiative and participate in the collections of old but still functioning MacBooks and laptops from offices.
Learn about Sustainable Development at the University of Westminster.
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