National award nominations for Kent County Council’s Digital Inclusion & Capabilities service
Digital Kent, a Kent County Council partnership service improving digital inclusion and capabilities across Kent, has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Local Government Chronical (LGC) has shortlisted us in the Net Zero category for the positive impact delivered through the Hardware Access and Device Recycling schemes.
LGC unveiled the shortlist for this year’s awards after judges examined a record number of entries, with more than 900 submissions.
The service delivers a number of projects and schemes to help Kent and Medway residents get or stay online, supporting them on their individual digital journey. Support is delivered by gifting devices through the Hardware Access Scheme, providing connectivity through the Connectivity Access Scheme and supporting residents to gain digital skills at Digital Hubs and Digital Drop-ins.
Since 2022, Digital Kent has gifted over 4,600 laptops to residents, with 75% of these devices being given to households experiencing financial hardship. The laptops provided through the Hardware Access Scheme are from a certified remanufacturer with a BSI kitemark, which has made a positive environmental impact by purchasing carbon-neutral devices with over 26,840 trees planted and zero e-waste produced, along with:
• 1.6m kgs of carbon reduced
• 3m kgs of sequestered carbon emissions
• 6.4m kgs of resources preserved
• 1bn litres of water saved
In 2023 Digital Kent launched the Device Recycling Scheme to continue the positive environmental impact, whilst providing a sustainable solution to continue to provide hardware to digitally excluded residents. The recycling scheme has been able to avoid anything that has been donated going to landfill, with 12,931kgs of materials being reused and 6,551kg of materials being recycled.
KCC’s Digital Lead Sam Lawrence-Rose said: “We are proud that these initiatives have not only been able to support residents to be digitally included, but they have also been delivered in a way that has a positive environmental impact.
“From the start of our work, our team have striven to contribute to the Council’s commitment in working towards net zero for the county, supporting residents and businesses to take action to reduce their carbon footprints.
“The Device Recycling Scheme and Hardware Access Scheme are two examples of this, alongside many other initiatives that the Council is delivering.
“We are thankful to all the residents and businesses that have donated their devices and made a positive environmental impact.”
Digital Kent are one of ten nominees in the Net Zero category, who will complete presentations and interviews to a specific judging panel with winners being announced in June.
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