The technology exchange took place at the International Players Lounge at Principality Stadium following Wales’ Captains Run on Friday 3rd October. Children from four schools Ysgol Gyfun Cynffig Comprehensive, Pencoed Comprehensive, Cardiff West Community High School and Afon-Y-Felin Primary along with The Ethnic Youth Support Team, were invited to attend the Stadium where they got to experience a Captain’s Run training session at the stadium before being presented with over 70 laptops and tech equipment by none other than Wales international and former pupil at Pencoed Comprehensive, Sam Costelow.
Nigel Walker, WRU Group Interim CEO says, “We’re delighted to support ITHQ with this brilliant initiative. It not only helps us as an organisation reduce our corporate tech waste but by donating and repurposing our tech to ITHQ, it extends it use and we’re able to support schools, charities and individuals who need vital access to tech such as laptops, desktop computers and screens.”
ITHQ, an IT resilience service provider set up Life In IT in 2022 in order to turn corporate tech into a life-enhancing resource, delivering reconditioned IT to local organisations that provide vital services to local communities.
Scott Nursten, CEO ITHQ says, “Our mission at ITHQ is to solve wicked tech problems. We started Life In IT with the same concept in mind, solving two of the biggest problems that we see in technology today: tackling tech waste and bridging the digital divide.
“We want to empower organisations such as schools and charities that don’t have easy access to computing equipment in the same way that large organisations do. Whether they need it for education, communication or driving procedural efficiencies, it is our aim to deliver reconditioned equipment from corporate waste piles to places where it can be put to great use.
“We’re very pleased that WRU has firstly donated all this equipment for us to repurpose for use by Welsh schools and charities. But also, that they’ve invited us here with the schools and charities to experience the Captain’s Run and to see what a training day looks like for professional rugby players.”
Mr Alex Jones, Assistant Headteacher at Cynffig Comprehensive School and one of the recipient schools at todays event says, “We are delighted to have been invited to the ITHQ and Welsh Rugby Union event representing Cynffig Comprehensive School. As a school community we are extremely thankful for the ICT resources being given to our school.
“In a digital age dominated by ICT, there’s no escaping the fact that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of academic progress and school life. ICT can be a fundamental component of the learning experiences. With these added resources, it will no doubt have a significant impact in our community for our staff and pupils across the School.
“On behalf of our Cynffig School Community, thank you, and we hope to continue this excellent partnership with ITHQ and the Welsh Rugby Union.”
More information on ITHQ can be found here: https://ithq.pro/ . If you are a non-profit in need of tech for education, communication or entertainment, or a business looking to donate your old tech to this initiative, you can contact ITHQ here: Life In IT | ITHQ
