A new platform for companies to donate surplus technology to community projects has launched in the UK.
GivingBack.tech has been founded by Ian Morrish to help charities and Community Interest Companies access professional AV equipment without impacting limited budgets.
The scheme enables manufacturers, distributors, integrators and consultants to list unwanted second-hand, discontinued or B-stock equipment that can be repurposed for community use.
Smart home and control manufacturer Crestron has joined the initiative as its first founding partner.
Morrish said: “There is clearly the desire for quality AV by charities and other community organisations, but sadly not the budget."
Morrish developed the concept after identifying a gap in resources while running Together for Cinema, which works with the AV industry to install cinema rooms in children’s hospices and family care facilities across the UK.
He added: “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 AV users.”
The platform aims to give surplus equipment a second life while helping organisations avoid disposal costs and reduce waste.
According to Morrish, the model offers both social and environmental benefits, supporting broader UN sustainability initiatives while enabling charities to deploy technology they would otherwise struggle to afford.
The not-for-profit platform is preparing for a smooth launch to charities in May and is encouraging AV companies to participate by donating surplus equipment or becoming official partners.
Main image from left to right: Annelies Kampert (vice president and general manager at Crestron Europe), Ian Morrish and Dan Feldstein (president and CEO at Crestron Electronics).