Wren Contracts has donated 481 Apple devices to charities across the UK, working with its housebuilder clients to turn updated technology into meaningful support for communities while giving the equipment a valuable second life.
The desktop computers, which are in excellent working order became available as part of Wren’s ongoing programme to maintain up-to-date technology across its showroom estate.
Rather than allowing usable equipment to go to waste, Wren Contracts worked with some of its housebuilder partners to identify charities where the devices could make a positive difference. The initiative supports Wren’s wider sustainability ambitions by extending the life of existing technology, reducing electronic landfill waste and supporting circular principles, while creating lasting social value.
Through Wren Contracts’ extensive relationships with Taylor Wimpey and Vistry, Wren Contracts facilitated the donation of 186 devices to their chosen charity Crisis, the national homelessness charity. This donation is supporting Crisis in its vital work helping people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, providing them with digital connectivity and access to essential services, education and employment opportunities, helping people rebuild their lives and secure a more stable and permanent future.
Dulal Ahmed, Director of Crisis’ London Skylight service, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Wren Contracts for their generous donation and for recognising the important role access to technology can play in helping people rebuild their lives. For someone experiencing homelessness, digital access can be vital - whether that’s searching for employment, accessing essential services, developing new skills or staying connected. These devices will make a real and practical difference to the people we support, and we would like to thank Wren Contracts, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry for helping make this possible.”
Extending the impact of its partnership with Taylor Wimpey, Wren Contracts has donated a further 120 devices to three charities supported by the housebuilder: EveryYouth, St Mungo’s (who last year helped more than 26,000 people suffering – or at risk of – homelessness) and leading school breakfast charity, Magic Breakfast, further extending their reach into more local communities. Together, these donations will help support vulnerable young people, tackle homelessness and give disadvantaged children a better start to their school day, demonstrating how strong business partnerships can deliver meaningful benefits far beyond the construction industry.
Building on its established relationship as exclusive kitchen supplier to McCarthy & Stone, Wren Contracts has also donated 100 devices to the McCarthy & Stone Foundation. The devices are being sold to raise vital funds for the Foundation, supporting its mission to help grassroots charities and community groups improve the lives of older people, helping them remain connected, independent and actively involved in their communities.
Julia Laister, Head of McCarthy & Stone Foundation said: “We are extremely grateful to Wren Contracts for this generous donation. This is a fantastic example of how businesses can work together. The sale of these 100 devices will raise significant funds to help us reach and support more organisations tackling loneliness, promoting independence and improving the wellbeing of older people across the UK.”
Another 75 devices have been donated to the Digital Poverty Alliance, Barratt Redrow’s chosen charity, which works to end digital poverty by helping ensure people have access to devices, connectivity and the skills and support needed to participate in an increasingly digital world.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO, Digital Poverty Alliance, said: “We are hugely grateful to Wren Contracts for this generous donation. Having access to a suitable device is essential in today’s increasingly digital world, yet too many people across the UK remain excluded from the opportunities that tech’ provides. By giving these devices a new lease of life, Wren is not only helping to tackle digital poverty, but enabling more people to access education, employment, essential services and the opportunities many of us take for granted.”
Damian Sheridan, Sales Director, Wren Contracts, said: “Creating lasting social value in the communities in which we work is extremely important to us. These devices still have plenty of life in them, so finding a way to reuse them while supporting some fantastic causes made absolute sense.
“Our relationships with our housebuilder customers have enabled us to make valuable introductions and direct much needed equipment to organisations where it can have a genuine impact. At the same time, extending the life of the devices rather than treating them as waste supports our commitment to a more circular and environmentally responsible way of working.
“We hope this is the beginning of further long-term charity partnerships with our customers, enabling us to continue supporting communities and causes where we can make a meaningful difference.”
