Every Child Online

22/05/2026

Interesting article from our CEO. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to discover more about our organisations.

Many Businesses Are Looking at Redundant IT the Wrong Way There are many businesses that still think redundant IT is an operational inconvenience. That is the first problem.

24/04/2026

We’re back at the National Cyber Security Show… but this year, the conversation is different.

If you work in IT or cybersecurity, you already understand risk.

What’s often missed is this:

Giving someone access to technology without the knowledge to use it safely creates a different kind of risk entirely.

Over the past five years, we’ve placed over 50,000 devices into the hands of young people across the UK. Now we’re stepping further into online safety, because access without protection isn’t enough.

We’ve just released a piece explaining why this matters, and how businesses can turn something as routine as IT disposal into something far more impactful.
https://everychildonline.co.uk/100-of-donated-tech-100-for-good-every-child-online-returns-as-charity-partner-to-the-national-cyber-security-show-2026/

📍 NEC Birmingham
📅 28–30 April 2026
📌 Stand 5/Q31

If you’re attending, come and have a proper conversation with us.

If not, the press release is worth a read Group

16/04/2026

Most organisations are sitting on unused tech that could solve a much bigger problem than they realise.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/we-device-charity-correcting-system-never-designed-everyone-tarbard-wvyxc

There is a persistent misconception about organisations like ours. We are often described as a “device charity” a group that collects old laptops, refurbishes them, and passes them on to those in need.

27/03/2026

Are you a Basildon resident with children at school? Today we host our 12th Tech Giveaway, providing desktops, monitors, mice, keyboards and all the power and data cables, to families without a computer at home. We are expecting over 100 families to turn up, we will discuss digital literacy and online safety and invite them in for training if they want help.

If you need a computer at home so your kids can do their home work, you have until 3pm to day to collect a desktop kits for a £20 contribution to our work.

That’s a desktop computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, power and data cable all for just £20. Each device has free Linus Mint work tools so your children can complete their homework.

We are at the Unity centre, Eastgate shopping centre next door to the now shut down Poundland which is close to the food court on the first floor.

Basildon Discussion Group.

11/03/2026

Could Social Media Be Banned for Under-16s?

If you’re 13, 14 or 15 right now, there’s a good chance you’ve already spent years on social media.

You might message friends on Snapchat, scroll TikTok after school, or watch endless YouTube videos late at night. For most teenagers, these apps are simply part of everyday life.

But in the UK something is happening that will affect your access to the social media platforms many of you are using.
Adults who are politicians, teachers, scientists and parents, are starting to ask a question that would have sounded ridiculous ten years ago:

Should children under 16 be allowed on social media at all?
Last week, that debate reached Parliament where these decisions are make on your behalf.

So… are they banning social media for under-16s?
Not yet.

On 9th of March 2026, MPs voted on whether the UK should introduce a rule that would stop under-16s from using social media within the next year.

That idea had been suggested by the House of Lords. But MPs rejected it.

Instead, the government decided to pause and investigate the issue properly before making a decision.
So, nothing changes overnight. Your apps won’t suddenly disappear.

But the debate has clearly started and the rules around social media for young people could change over the next few years.
Why are politicians suddenly worried about social media?

Part of the reason is that social media today is very different from the internet adults grew up with.

When today’s parents were teenagers, the online world was mostly websites and simple chat rooms.

Now it’s powered by algorithms, systems designed to keep you watching, scrolling and clicking for as long as possible.

That design can sometimes push extreme or upsetting content, because shocking or emotional videos tend to spread fastest.

Researchers and child safety experts say this can lead to problems like:
• cyberbullying
• exposure to harmful or disturbing videos
• scams or online fraud
• grooming by predators
• pressure created by likes, followers and constant comparison.

This is one of the reasons the UK introduced the Online Safety Act, which forces technology companies to take much greater responsibility for protecting children online.

If they don’t ban social media, what could change?

Instead of banning apps completely, the government is exploring other options.

Some of the ideas being discussed might sound familiar if you already use parental controls on a phone or console.

For example, platforms could be forced to introduce stronger age checks to prove how old users really are.

Certain features might also be restricted for younger users.
Think about things like:

private messaging with strangers, algorithmic recommendation feeds, late-night scrolling or time limits on daily usage.

The idea is that the most addictive or risky parts of social media might be limited, rather than banning the apps themselves.
Why is setting an age limit harder than it sounds?

At first, a simple rule like “no social media under 16” might sound easy.

But the reality is complicated.

If the law introduced a strict age limit, companies would need to prove the age of every user.
That raises big questions.

Would people need to upload passports or driving licences?
Would apps scan faces to estimate age?

How would companies protect people’s private data?
This is one reason the government has decided to run a national consultation first.

They want experts, parents, teachers, and young people, to share their views before new rules are introduced.

The bigger question nobody has answered yet
There’s another debate quietly happening behind all of this.

Some people think the solution is simple:
Children should stay away from social media until they are older.
Others believe the real problem is how the platforms are designed.

They argue that features like endless scrolling, constant notifications and recommendation algorithms are what create unhealthy habits.

If that’s true, then the solution might not be banning social media.

It might be building better social media.

What does this mean for your generation?

Right now, nothing changes tomorrow.

But the internet you grow up with may look very different from the one teenagers used even five years ago.

Governments around the World are starting to take social media much more seriously.

That means you might see things like:
stricter age checks
new safety settings
limits on certain features
or platforms redesigning how their apps work.

In other words, the rules of the online world are still being written.

A question worth thinking about

Adults are debating this issue in Parliament.

But the people most affected by the decision are young people.
So here’s the real question:

What should a healthy online world actually look like?

Should governments set strict age limits? Or should technology companies redesign their platforms to make them safer?

The answer will shape how your generation experiences the internet.

06/03/2026

Digital Exclusion Meets Its Match as New Basildon Hub Opens Doors

A new chapter in Basildon’s community story has begun with the launch of the Everyone Digital Outreach Hub at the Unity Centre, located within Eastgate Shopping Centre. The initiative has been delivered through a partnership between Everyone Digital CIC, children’s charity Every Child Online, and employment support organisation Signpost.

The Outreach Hub has been created as a welcoming, supportive space where learning happens at an individual pace, and circumstances are understood without judgement. It is designed not only for those who feel unsure about using technology, but also for individuals and families who may already have digital skills yet face barriers such as the cost of devices, limited internet access, or outdated equipment that restricts participation in modern life.

Residents visiting the Hub can receive help navigating smartphones, laptops, and online services, build confidence completing everyday digital tasks, explore low-cost refurbished devices, and access guidance on online safety and digital wellbeing. For those experiencing digital poverty, the Hub provides practical pathways to affordable technology and connectivity, helping to remove financial barriers that can prevent people from applying for jobs, supporting children’s education, accessing services, or staying connected with their communities. Individuals seeking employment can also access support with online applications, CV preparation, and the digital skills increasingly required in modern workplaces.

Working together, the three partner organisations bring complementary strengths to the initiative. Everyone Digital provides the technical expertise, refurbishment capability, and professional IT asset disposal services that transform surplus corporate technology into community resources. Every Child Online continues its mission of ensuring children and young people can access devices, build confidence online, and learn how to stay safe in the digital world. Signpost contributes its established employment support services, helping individuals turn growing digital confidence into real pathways toward training, volunteering, and work.
This collaborative approach is made possible through longstanding relationships with UK businesses that trust Everyone Digital and Every Child Online with their surplus technology. Devices that might otherwise sit unused or be prematurely recycled are securely collected, data wiped, refurbished, and reintroduced into communities where they can support learning, connection, and opportunity. The Basildon Outreach Hub brings that journey full circle by placing support directly within the community it is designed to serve.

For Mike Tarbard, Founder of Everyone Digital and Every Child Online, the location carries particular significance.

“Having been born, raised, and educated in Basildon, it feels especially meaningful that our first community Outreach Hub is here. Basildon is home to our charity headquarters and has played a huge part in shaping both our journey and our values. Launching this Hub in the borough feels like giving something back while creating new opportunities for residents. We want this to be a place where anyone can walk in, ask questions, build confidence, and realise that technology can support their goals rather than stand in their way.”

Jenny Ibarra, Unity Centre Manager, said:

“We are proud to host this important initiative at the Unity Centre. The Outreach Hub strengthens the support available to Basildon residents by bringing digital access, skills development, and employment pathways together in one welcoming environment. It is a project that reflects the power of partnership and community collaboration.”

The organisations behind the initiative view the Basildon Hub as the first step within a wider ambition to create a network of accessible community digital spaces across Essex. By working alongside local authorities, community groups, education providers, and businesses, Everyone Digital and its partners hope to replicate this model in other towns where residents would benefit from local, trusted digital support.

Alongside community participation, the project also relies on volunteers who can share their knowledge and experience. Individuals with digital skills who are willing to support others, whether through basic guidance, troubleshooting, or confidence building conversations, are encouraged to get involved as Tech Support Volunteers.
Residents, organisations, and potential partners interested in supporting the Outreach Hub, collaborating on future locations, or volunteering their time are warmly invited to make contact and become part of this growing community movement.

Because when knowledge is shared, confidence grows, and when confidence grows, opportunity follows.

Location:
The UNITY Centre
Unit 48 (86 Eastgate Centre)
Basildon, SS14 1AF
Opening Hours:
09:30-15:30 Monday to Friday

21/02/2026

Thurrock Tech Give Away, Today!

We are pleased to be hosting a community tech give away today at Thameside Theatre (opposite Grays Library).

We have 50 refurbished desktop PC kits available for Thurrock residents at a subsidised cost of £20 per kit.

Each kit includes:• Desktop PC• Monitor• Keyboard and mouse• Data and power cables

🕘 9:00am – 12:30pm📍 The Library & Community Centre, Thameside Theatre

These devices have been professionally refurbished and are ready to support learning, job searching, and everyday digital access.

Strictly first come, first served.

Please share with anyone in Thurrock who may benefit from affordable access to technology.

Access to the internet is now essential for everyday life, enabling families to support children’s education, search and apply for employment, manage finances, access public services and healthcare, and stay connected with friends and wider support networks. Without reliable digital access, families can experience social and economic disadvantage, reduced opportunities, and increased isolation, making digital inclusion a key factor in improving wellbeing, confidence, and life chances.

22/12/2025

Have a fabulous time #2025 #2026

07/12/2025

Thank you BBC ESsex for all your support.

05/12/2025

Join the growing number of UK companies choosing our IT asset disposal service.

Our accredited wipe and destruction process is completely free, saving businesses money while supporting their environmental and social goals.

By partnering with us, your organisation strengthens its ESG, CSR, sustainability and social impact commitments.

You will also help a child gain access to technology, improve their education, and discover digital skills that could shape their future career.

If you would like to find out more, please contact us.

Together we can create opportunities, inspire young minds and build a more confident digital generation.

Get in contact at mailto:[email protected] - everychildonline.co.uk