Aaron's Story
From falling behind to finding his footing
For Aaron and his two children, digital exclusion was creating a vicious cycle of poverty and disadvantage
Low‑income households are six times more likely to be digitally excluded.
This limits their access to employment, education and financial support.
Aaron is a single dad living in temporary accommodation with his two young children. He works part‑time, but rising living costs mean there’s nothing left for technology at the end of the month. When his eldest started secondary school, homework increasingly had to be done online, but the family had no laptop at home.
Low-income households face:
the impossibility of affording a laptop alongside basic living costs
lack of home broadband
reliance on shared or outdated devices
increasing demand from schools that homework be submitted online
digital poverty that affects education, work and mental health
This creates a cycle where poverty → digital exclusion → deeper poverty.
Sharing a single smartphone between the family made it almost impossible for Aaron's daughter to do her homework or revision properly. Aaron struggled to apply for jobs, update his Universal Credit account, or complete online forms required by the council.
The Challenge
For Aaron, digital exclusion meant:
missed homework deadlines
risk to his children’s progress
barriers to better employment
stress and shame
difficulty managing finances or accessing support
Aaron knew his family needed help, but he didn’t know where to turn.
Through a referral from a housing officer, Aaron received:
a refurbished laptop suitable for schoolwork and job applications
foundation skills training and assistance with online forms
access to free digital skills for work training
free data Internet access and a Mi-Fi unit to hotspot from.
How we helped
Change a life today
Your donated laptop can help families break the vicious cycle of digital poverty.
Donate laptops to support
low-income families to prosperPartner with us to sponsor devices and training
Apply for a laptop if your family is struggling without access.
With the help of their new laptop:
Aaron's daughter completes homework independently
Aaron has completed several online skills-for-work courses and feels more confident in his abilities
he's has applied for several full-time jobs and secured an interview
he manages benefits and council tasks online
stress at home has eased significantly
Life with a laptop
"This laptop has given us a fighting chance. I'm confident about finding work, and my daughter's doing great. She's already teaching my son to use it.'
Social value of reuse
Using HACT Social Value Insights, the social value generated through Aaron's refurbished laptop is
£49,000
Case studies are based on real beneficiary journeys. Some names and identifying details have been altered to protect confidentiality, but each story represents the genuine challenges faced by the communities we serve.
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