Dave's computer clinic group revive 60 'dead' laptops for schools

Dave Carlos, 68, and fellow members of the West Fleetwood Computer Clinic have taken in laptops donated by the public and digitally cleaned and refurbished them.

Dave, who used to edit a magazine called Home Computer Weekly, and the other computer 'geeks' have been able to provide laptops for all seven of Fleetwood's primary schools over the last few months.

With many pupils having to learn from home during the coronavirus lockdown, it has never been more important for youngsters to have access to laptops.

The computer clinic was set up by Dave seven years as part of a free initiative run through Emmanuel Church West in the town.

Over the years the clinic has fixed devices for people who needed them for work, as well as donating others to those in need in the community.

Now, with lockdown having such a big effect on schools over the past 11 months, Dave and the gang have been helping out primary schools.

Dave, of Ullswater Avenue, Larkholme, said: "If the public hadn't been generous enough us to give us these old laptops in the first place, we wouldn't be able to help the schools in this way

"We are all fellow geeks and we all enjoying transforming old machines that would otherwise be landfill and making sure they can still be used.

"We have a pretty good record at finding out what is wrong with the machines and being able to fix them."

The group keep a record of all the computers they have fixed so that the information can be stored for a national 'fixometer' record.

Over the years the clinic has made a real difference to individuals who needed some urgent IT assistance.

One system went to a man who needed it for job applications, returning to work after six years of successful cancer treatment.

Another went to a family whose father had a serious form of apnoea, preventing him working.

In the last six months alone they have been handed a total of 168 computers, managing to fix 113 so far.

Dave says they will be able to offer more to schools which need them, particularly in areas of relative deprivation.

The other members of the team are Steve Berger, of Anchorsholme, along with Fletwood men Mike Smith, Colin Parker and Paul Sum

Members of the public who have any old laptops to donate can contact Dave at [email protected] or phone (01253) 424675.