CalMac delivers a connectivity upgrade to Oban carers' centre

Schools and community groups across the west coast are getting an IT upgrade from CalMac.

The ferry operator recently upgraded its own IT systems and decided to refurbish 151 PCs and laptops with more to come and gift them to local causes. Oban based North Argyll Carers Centre (NACC) is one of the first groups to take delivery. They provide support to all carers in Oban, Lorn and the Isles working with them to make a positive difference to their lives.

Services offered include support for young carers, outreach work, training and monthly support groups. 

'We were delighted to get the offer of kit from CalMac to support our work and received it soon after we requested it. As a charity replacing kit can be costly, so help of this sort is much appreciated and the kit is currently being used in our Oban Centre. We so appreciate our connections with CalMac and our local community. Support of this sort ultimately helps us in our work supporting unpaid family carers from the age of eight across the Oban, Lorn and Isles area,' said NACC Manager Judith Hawcroft.

Picture shows: CalMac's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Gordon MacKillop handed over some new IT equipment to the North Argyll Carers Centre Administration & Finance Co-ordinator, Zivile Matijaskiene.

CalMac's independent Community Board, set up to foster closer links with customers and stakeholders and to offer advice and guidance on strategic ferry issues, played a key role in communicating the opportunity. CalMac's Director of Information Technology, Simon Hulme said:

'We've made a large investment in hardware over the past six months and with that brings a significant amount of end of life devices. Devices were cleaned and returned to factory settings by our IT team and using our strong links to communities we have been able to find deserving homes for our devices. 'The cost of IT hardware to community groups and schools is significant and we know our support will make a difference. By recycling and keeping IT equipment out of landfill helps us towards some of the objectives set out in our environmental strategy.'

CalMac still has some unallocated devices, any group interested in receiving one should email communityfund@calmac.co.uk