The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone with 101 year old lady May Princkley and Maxitech MD Peter Paduh.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone and not-for-profit computer recycling company Maxitech have joined forces with Age Concern London in a new initiative that aims to open up the online world to London’s older citizens. 
As a part of the Computers for Older People project, the Mayor is writing to London businesses to encourage them to donate computers they no longer need to Maxitech, which will safely wipe and refurbish the computers, and distribute them to Age Concern centres in the capital. 

The initiative will see thousands of older people gaining access to computers and training through Age Concern London. The charity will ensure that the computers are given to housebound older people in their communities, with some computers kept at Age Concern drop-in centres for older people to use there. 

The Mayor said at the launch of the project on 7 June at Age Concern London: "Access to a computer - and in particular the Internet - is an increasingly valuable part of every day life, and without it many people will find themselves deprived of many opportunities that others take for granted. This is an important project, which I strongly support, and a fantastic way to enhance the lives of many of London’s older citizens." 

Age Concern London chief executive Samantha Mauger said: “These computers will give the older people who receive them the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and will enable them to have access to health and advice. This will make such a difference to the lives of many older people who find it hard to get out due to illness, disability or mobility problems, and find everyday tasks such as shopping and banking and even socialising difficult. Helping them to improve their computer skills and giving them access to the Internet will give older people, who would otherwise be isolated, the ability to do everyday tasks easily from their own homes. ’ 

Maxitech managing director Peter Paduh, recently voted Young Businessperson of the year by the London Chamber of Commerce and ITV, said: “Society is becoming ever more dependent on computerised technologies, but that creates the problem of outdated equipment. An estimated two million working Pentium or equivalent PCs are dumped in landfill sites in the UK every year, creating a massive environmental hazard. Our priority is to prevent old computers from becoming an environmental liability, and instead turn them into a valuable resource for charities and community groups. We’re delighted to be working with the Mayor of London and Age Concern London on this exciting project, which I’m sure will engage the enthusiasm of people responsible for IT in companies and organisations across the region.”