Social enterprise Reboot Cambridge to close due to lack of funding

A social enterprise that has saved tonnes of IT equipment from landfill will close at the end of the month due to a lack of funding.

Reboot Cambridge has been serving the city and the surrounding area for more than a decade, but will shut its doors on July 31.

The not-for-profit company, which costs around £60,000 per year to run, offers reasonably priced refurbished IT equipment and repair services in the Cambridge area.

Paul Brunsdon, who has worked part-time for the company for 13 years, told the Cambridge Independent: “The people who have contributed over the years have kept us going. We’ll be sad to go because we’re not aware of any of these services being provided by anyone else in the area. It’s a real shame.”

Originally the service provided work-based experience for people with Asperger syndrome but this soon grew to encompass those in long-term unemployment and other members of the community.

Until June 2013, the organisation operated under the umbrella of other charities.

Between 2010 and 2013, Reboot recycled more than 170 tonnes of ICT equipment and trained more than 260 people not in education, employment or training in computer repair, refurbishment and recycling.

It has continued to provide opportunities for training for disadvantaged members of the community, with elements of work experience. This enabled them to increase their skill levels to aid them into employment, increases their social confidence, and provides a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which to work.

The service was first based in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, before later moving to Waterbeach when rents increased in the city. More recently, the charity has been based in Cottenham.

Reboot Cambridge, which previously received support from various organisations and councils, said securing funding had become more difficult.

“Being so far away from the city meant that we didn’t get as much footfall which really hurt us,” Paul explained. “Funding has been difficult to secure and we cannot run on the equipment sales alone. Our work experience doesn’t provide any quantifiable results, so again its difficult to secure funding.”

Paul added: “There is still a desire to run the service, so if anyone can help then please get in touch with us.”

Email info@rebootcambridge.org.uk.