The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is helping to tackle digital exclusion by donating surplus mobile phones, iPads, laptops and monitors to schools and charities across the North West.
Since 2021, the NDA has donated over 1,500 devices to around 50 organisations across Cumbria, Lancaster, Warrington and Manchester enabling children and adults to keep in contact with family and friends, access essential support and information services, and stay connected to the personal networks they rely on.
What makes this initiative even more special is that our employees have been instrumental in identifying the organisations that could benefit most, drawing on their local knowledge and connections within the communities they live and work in.
We recognise the value of volunteering which is why we allow our employees to apply for two days each year to undertake voluntary work and up to 5 days special leave for uniformed services, enabling them to contribute to their communities and create a positive legacy for future generations.
Why digital inclusion matters
Access to technology is an essential part of modern life. Whether it's accessing education, employment opportunities, healthcare services or staying connected with family and friends, digital access can have a significant impact on people's lives.
Making a difference
- More than 1,500 devices donated since 2021
- Around 50 organisations supported across the North West
- Schools, charities and community organisations benefiting from the scheme
- Employees helping identify local organisations in need
Supporting vital NHS services
One of the organisations supported through the programme is Northwest Blood Bikes (Lancs and Lakes), identified through NDA employee Simon Barker, NDA IT Change and Release Manager and volunteer with the charity.
Simon explains:
The Northwest Blood Bikes (Lancs and Lakes) are a group of volunteers that answer calls from the hospitals and dispatch riders, or ride motorcycles, to collect and deliver urgently needed items for NHS hospitals including blood, platelets, samples, medication, and donor breast milk.
Many of us volunteers have either had support from the hospitals, personally or within our own families and want to give back, or we simply want to help.
The Blood Bikes operate every single day of the year without a break - including Christmas, New Year's Day and Bank Holidays. There’s also a Donor Breast Milk service and we collaborate with other Blood Bike groups for high priority "relay" runs at the request of the NHS.
Controllers work from home using their own landline phone, mobile phone and computer to receive calls from the NHS then dispatch a rider. Laptops donated by the NDA have helped to provide our controllers with more up to date technology and ensure more controllers can be trained up within the service.
Helping young people thrive through technology
For Simon Tucker, NDA Group Head of Data & Information Governance, supporting local schools has been a natural extension of his volunteering roles as a school governor and community trustee.
Simon said:
I have been a governor of Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary Academy in West Cumbria for 11 years now, serving as their community governor and latterly as Vice Chair too. This is the primary school that three of my children have attended and I have always felt that it is important to explore these opportunities that can help shape decisions, in support of the Head Teacher, to improve the quality of education and opportunities for all children.
Initially I worked to help Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary Academy access some old NDA devices but I also have connections with Seaton Primary School so helped them access support as well. Finally, I live very close to another smaller primary school – Bridekirk Dovenby CE Primary School, which is also close to my heart as my wife works there as a Senior Higher-Level Teaching Assistant.
Across the three primary schools the NDA have repurposed over 200 computers, iPads and mobile phones in the last two years. This equipment has made a significant difference to teaching and learning, giving pupils access to modern technology that supports learning across the curriculum.
They’ve helped enhance digital skills, increase pupil engagement, and enabled staff to deliver more interactive and inclusive lessons. The donations have also helped ensure that all pupils have greater opportunities to access the digital resources and tools they need to thrive in the modern world.
Creating opportunities for future generations
Chris Jennings, NDA Commercial Category Manager, identified another opportunity through his volunteering role with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
Chris explains:
I am a Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer (CFAV) with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), holding the rank of Sergeant. My journey with the organisation began many years ago as an Air Cadet myself, but I returned when both of my sons joined.
For me, volunteering with the RAF Air Cadets is about giving young people opportunities they may not otherwise have. The organisation develops confidence, resilience, teamwork and leadership, providing experiences that can genuinely change lives. My youngest son recently secured his first job after graduating from university and told me that during his interview there was a great deal of interest in his experiences as an Air Cadet, which I think swung the job in his favour.
Whilst the RAF provides funding for the core cadet programme, additional donations help enhance the cadet experience through equipment and training resources. The NDA has generously donated laptops, which are primarily used to support the RAF Air Cadet classification syllabus, together with television screens used for presentations and the Squadron’s flight simulator training. It’s been 12 years and I am still volunteering and continue to gain an immense sense of achievement from working with young people. Seeing cadets grow in confidence, develop leadership skills and achieve things they never thought possible is incredibly rewarding. Perhaps the greatest moment of all is watching a cadet step out of an RAF aircraft after their first Air Experience Flight. They invariably have the biggest smile on their face and a story they can’t wait to tell.
Turning surplus technology into social value
The programme is coordinated by Ryan Winthrop, NDA IT Manager and lead for the charity device donation initiative.
Ryan said:
The charity device donation initiative started from a simple question: what can we do with perfectly usable laptops and phones once they reach the end of their service life within the NDA? Over the last few years we’ve worked to develop a secure process that allows surplus devices to be data-cleansed and donated rather than disposed of.
This initiative is important to me because I’ve seen first-hand the difference these devices can make to people’s lives. Some of the most rewarding feedback has come from children’s homes, where donated devices give opportunities they may not otherwise have had.
One piece of feedback that has always stayed with me came from a young person who jokingly refers to me as “The Phone God” because he couldn’t understand why a complete stranger would do something kind without expecting anything in return. Moments like that remind me that what may seem like an old phone or laptop to us can have a genuinely life-changing impact on someone who has been through difficult times.
Identifying the right organisations to support is very much a team effort. I regularly work with colleagues to understand local needs, discuss potential recipients and make sure devices are directed towards organisations where they can have the greatest impact.
This isn't just about recycling technology or reducing waste, its supporting local communities - every donated laptop or phone represents an opportunity for someone to access education, stay connected, develop new skills or receive support they might otherwise struggle to access.
The NDA's device donation initiative demonstrates how employee volunteering, community connections and surplus technology can come together to make a lasting difference for local people, schools and charities across the North West.
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