Donate IT CIO Charity number: 1208597
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
1. Reference and Governance
Donate IT is a volunteer-led charity operating in Somerset. The charity is governed by its trustees, who are responsible for setting the charity’s direction, ensuring compliance with charity law and Charity Commission guidance, and overseeing the proper use of charitable funds and assets. Trustees meet as required and provide oversight proportionate to the size and resources of the charity. Day-to-day activities are delivered by volunteers, supported by partner organisations and referral agencies.
2. Objectives and Public Benefit
Donate IT’s charitable objective is to reduce digital exclusion by providing free, refurbished digital devices to people who cannot afford them. This supports individuals and families to access education, employment opportunities, healthcare services, and essential online systems. The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe the charity delivers clear public benefit by supporting people experiencing disadvantage due to low income, disability, health conditions, housing insecurity, rural isolation, or other barriers to digital access.
3. Activities and Achievements
Donate IT collects unwanted IT equipment from households and businesses and repurposes it for charitable reuse. Devices suitable for reuse are securely data wiped using specialist software and reset before being distributed free of charge via trusted referral partners. Since August 2021, Donate IT has prevented over 11,500 electronic devices from going to landfill and donated approximately 2,700 laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other devices to people in need. Devices are distributed following referrals from local authorities, schools (including SEND), Job Centres, GP practices, social prescribing teams, charities, food banks, police, and community organisations. Feedback from partner organisations confirms improved access to education, employability, benefits, healthcare services, and reduced isolation. The charity has also provided volunteering opportunities, including for people with learning difficulties, helping them gain skills, confidence, and work experience.
4. Environmental Impact
Donate IT contributes to the circular economy by prioritising reuse of donated equipment wherever possible. Equipment that cannot be reused is responsibly graded and passed only to UK Environment Agency–licensed
recyclers, reducing waste electrical and electronic equipment entering landfill and supporting responsible material recovery.
5. Financial Review and Reserves
Donate IT operates on a low-cost, volunteer-led basis. Income is derived from donations, small grants, and the sale of graded non-reusable equipment, with all income reinvested into charitable activities. The trustees aim to maintain modest reserves sufficient to meet short-term operational commitments and unforeseen costs. Reserve levels are reviewed regularly and considered appropriate to the charity’s scale and activities.
6. Risks and Uncertainties
The trustees have identified the principal risks to the charity as reliance on volunteer capacity, availability and consistency of donated equipment, and ongoing funding constraints. These risks are mitigated through strong partnerships, prudent financial management, and careful planning.
7. Plans for the Future
In the coming year, Donate IT aims to increase the number of devices refurbished and redistributed, strengthen referral partnerships, improve impact measurement and reporting, and continue supporting volunteers into skills development and employment pathways.
8. Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing this Trustees’ Annual Report and ensuring that it provides a fair and balanced overview of the charity’s activities, achievements, and financial position.
Approved by the Trustees on 15[th] Jan 2026 and signed on their behalf by
Simon Barfoot
…………………………………….
Simon Barfoot Chair of Trustees
DonateIT CIO Charity number: 1208597
Accounts for year ended 31st March 2025
| Income Statement Income Spend Retained Income Bank Account (Unity Trust Bank) Opening Balance 19th August 2024 Closing Balance 31st March 2025 |
£ 9423 79 |
|---|---|
| 9344 | |
| 0 9344 |