Partner Stories - Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
About WCHG
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) is one of the largest social housing providers in Manchester, serving over 29,000 people across 14,000 properties. With a vision to make Wythenshawe an even better place to live, WCHG plays a vital role in building safer and healthier and more connected communities.
Digital inclusion has long been a priority for WCHG. “There’s a huge demand for affordable or free devices among digitally excluded people,” explains Benjamin Yoxall, Digital Inclusion Officer. WCHG offer digital skill drop-in sessions, IT courses and job clubs throughout the week, Monday to Friday, but many participants arrive without devices or rely on outdated equipment. To tackle barriers such as lack of technology, internet access, or digital skills, WCHG launched a dedicated Digital Inclusion Initiative under its Community and Neighbourhood Development Strategy, designed to help residents benefits from accessible and affordable access to the internet and the skills to feel more comfortable online. Our partnership has strengthened this initiative by providing refurbished IT equipment — giving more residents the tools they need to develop digital skills, access essential online services – something that is vital in today’s world. This makes a difference in their lives.
Why WCHG Chose Community Computers
In 2024, WCHG received funding to upgrade its IT equipment. With sustainability in mind, they chose not to simply dispose of their old devices but to donate them so they could be reused to help others. Having heard positive stories about our impact through Trafford Council and other partners, WCHG decided to work with us to ensure their retired IT continued creating value — both securely and sustainably.
The stories we heard from people already in partnerships with you were wonderful, and we wanted to be a part of that. We can see that Community Computers has very high standards and expectations when it comes to customer satisfaction, which align with ours.
– Benjamin Yoxall, Digital Inclusion Officer, WCHG
How the Partnership Works
At the heart of our partnership is a shared belief: no one should be left behind in the digital world.
Adrian Nottingham, Business Development Manager, and Chris Bennett, Digital Inclusion Project Manager at Community Computers, explained the process to WCHG — from booking a secure pickup and asset collection, through certified data destruction and refurbishment, to deciding how refurbished devices could be best repurposed for community needs.
Benjamin valued this collaborative approach:
They clearly have pride and high standards in the work they do. They take data security very seriously and in my opinion are very trustworthy when it comes to handling data. The devices were all like brand new upon their return and even came with a handy guide for the new user.
Tangible Results and Environmental Benefits
In March 2025, WCHG donated over 130 devices to Community Computers for secure data destruction and refurbishment. Of these, 53 devices were successfully refurbished and put back into use — either offered free of charge, supplied at low cost through our schemes, or sold to support our ongoing operations.
This donation also prevented 402 kg of waste from going to landfill and saved more than 26,000 kg of carbon emissions. Every device kept in use not only supports people in need but also contributes to a greener environment and a more sustainable future.
A Motto in Action: "Business Head and A Social Heart"
WCHG lives by its motto: “Business Head and a Social Heart.” Committed to supporting tenants, customers, and the wider Wythenshawe community, WCHG continues to expand online services to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and help residents live more sustainable lives.
Through this collaboration, more residents are now equipped with the devices they need to build digital confidence and navigate online life. One beneficiary, Debbie, who received her laptop from WCHG’s CEO, Nick Horne, shared:
“Thank you WCHG and Community Computers. I’ve been on the laptop for a few hours already over the past few days. I’ve learnt how to set up online banking and even figured out how to do an online grocery shop. I can see how the digital world makes daily life flow easier — thank you.”
Growing the Partnership, Growing the Impact
Owing to the positive results already achieved, WCHG is committed to strengthening the partnership by donating more of their retired IT equipment. To amplify the impact further, WCHG has also opened the door for staff to donate their own personal devices — ensuring even more people gain access to the technology they need most.
This initiative enables more residents to attend IT courses and drop-in sessions with their own devices, practise digital skills at home, stay connected with friends, and access online services with ease.
Looking Ahead
By extending the life of IT equipment, WCHG is not only supporting people but also reinforcing its sustainability goals — reducing waste while creating real social value.
Our partnership with Community Computers has already enabled numerous people struggling to access the digital world with fantastic free devices. It is a key part of WCHGs digital inclusion offer and we look forward to working with them for the foreseeable future.
– Benjamin Yoxall, Digital Inclusion Officer
