Recognising a gap in charities’ resources while working on his Together for Cinema project, Ian Morrish has established GivingBack.tech, a new way for UK charities and Community Interest Companies to access high-quality A/V equipment without spending hard-earned funds, and for the A/V industry to repurpose unwanted second-hand, discontinued and B-stock equipment to benefit our community.
Having seen A/V companies replacing equipment that still had a useful life span due to expanding demand, Morrish realised there was a way to deliver this equipment to good causes that could use it to enhance their day-to-day operation, but didn’t have the funds to purchase it.
‘There is clearly the desire for quality A/V by charities and other community organisations, but sadly not the budget,’ says Morrish. ‘GivingBack.tech is a simple way to connect deserving causes with free equipment. We will make sure the beneficiaries are verified, know what they need and will be able to use the equipment. All the AV businesses will have to do is list their available equipment on the website and then pop it in a van when a recipient requests it.’
For manufacturers, distributors, integrators, consultants and other organisations that have surplus equipment, GivingBack.tech offers a reliable and sustainable alternative to disposing of it. The aim is to limit landfill by giving excess A/V equipment a second life and making this excess equipment available to good causes, and help the A/V industry work towards complying with the latest United Nations 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals. Saving money on WEEE costs, releasing warehouse space, satisfying social and environmental obligations are other benefits of GivingBack.tech.
As a not-for-profit organisation, GivingBack.tech relies on funding to continue its development and raise awareness, and is calling on those in the A/V industry to help by becoming a GivingBack.tech Partner.
‘We know this will take time to bed in and become habitual, but it’s an important start,’ Morrish says. ‘So far, our platform has been received well by all that have heard about it, and we hope this is the start of a structured, industry-wide repurposing programme to help and support good causes. Balanced growth is key, but we need the support and engagement of the industry to get this off the ground.’
The first Founding Partner to join the scheme is Crestron: ‘The support of Crestron is a powerful indicator of the goodwill surrounding this initiative,’ Morrish continues. ‘We are delighted to have them as our first Founding Partner and hope that it encourages others to follow suit. In the meantime, companies with equipment to share are invited to sign up via the website and join as a donor. From there, GivingBack.tech will guide them through the process of connecting to charities and groups in a way that works for them.’
Annelies Kampert, Vice President and General Manager, Crestron Europe and Dan Feldstein, President and CEO at Crestron Electronics, explain why Crestron has chosen to support GivingBack.tech: ‘At Crestron, we care about more than results. Guided by our values, we actively support initiatives that give back and empower volunteers to make a real difference for those in need. We are committed to acting with purpose and integrity, extending our impact beyond our business. Supporting volunteer initiatives and community causes is an important part of who we are. By giving back where we can, we strive to support those in need and contribute to meaningful change in the communities we touch.
‘Community partnerships are fundamental to the ethos of Crestron,’ she adds. ‘By partnering with GivingBack.tech we are underlining our commitment to the people that really count in our community and hopefully making their work a little easier to do.
‘Potentially we have many products that we could post on the site. As an example, I’m sure excellent video conferencing equipment will help some children talk with others elsewhere in the country, or even the world, about their rare condition and the day-to-day challenges they, their family and the care team have to deal with. If we can reduce our consumption responsibly at the same time, then that is another bonus. Schemes like this are the future of responsible consumption and production and we are proud to be the first of many Partners to join Ian and the GivingBack.tech team.’
‘This should have happened years ago,’ Morrish concludes. ‘The potential is huge and the benefits are obvious. In five years, I hope to see a thriving site that has become an industry norm, backed and supported by both AV companies and corporates A/V users. I know that collectively we can make it happen.’
More: www.GivingBack.tech