Coventry City Council’s digital inclusion programme, #CovConnects, is partnering with the NHS Integrated Care Board and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust.
Thanks to the #CovConnects Device Bank, the partnership will see NHS devices like laptops and tablets collected, refurbished and then found new homes. The devices will be distributed to partner organisations including the NHS, so they can be used to tackle digital exclusion and help the most vulnerable.
What is the Device Bank?
Since its launch in June 2023, over 4200 devices have been distributed to local community organisations and Council services supporting residents across the city to access digital in ways that are meaningful to their lives.
The Device Bank has now become a vital resource for addressing digital inequalities across our communities. Access to a device, such as a laptop, tablet or a smartphone empowers individuals to access essential services like healthcare, education and employment opportunities, which would be otherwise inaccessible.
Thanks to this partnership, NHS devices at the end of their initial use are being given a second life. Taking a circular economy approach of ‘repair and reuse’, the initiative not only reduces waste but also extends the value of existing resources, creating a sustainable and impactful model for future growth.
Why the expansion?
The Device Bank centres around the core principle of bridging the digital divide, but this partnership and the expansion of eligibility allow us to achieve even more.
These efforts align with the NHS Core20PLUS5 framework, which seeks to address health inequalities by focusing on:
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Core20: The most deprived 20% of the population
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PLUS: Marginalised groups experiencing worse health outcomes, such as ethnic minorities and those with disabilities.
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5: Clinical priority areas, including maternity care, mental health, respiratory disease, early cancer diagnosis, and hypertension prevention.
In today’s increasingly digital world, these refurbished devices are essential tools for access and engaging with a variety of areas within health, including:
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Telehealth
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Remote consultations and monitoring
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Supporting health education
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Accessing self-care resources
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Providing connectivity for those unable to access healthcare services in person
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General wellbeing and reducing isolation
By combining sustainability with social impact, the Device Bank aims to drive a transformative approach to both digital inclusion and health equity. Digital enables better outcomes across key areas such as education, employment, housing and access to services, which we know from work with the Health Determinants Research Collaboration can significantly impact people’s health.
Who can apply?
With expanded eligibility, more organisations and services can now access the Device Bank including:
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Coventry based VCSEs supporting residents in the city
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Healthcare services improving access and outcomes in Core20PLUS5 priority areas.
How to apply
Applications are open to NHS Integrated Care Board and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. Visit this page of the council website to complete an application form. The form is simple and quick to fill out, and our team is available to provide support if needed.
If you have questions about how the devices can be used, or an idea for how the devices may be used, but don’t feel quite ready to make an application, you can reach out to us using the email below and we would be more than happy to arrange an informal chat to discuss.
How else can you help?
Spread the word: Share this initiative with any colleagues or partner VCSE organisations that might benefit
Contribute ideas: We are always eager to talk to anyone about anything digital inclusion related! Even if it’s not directly linked to the Device Bank, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to email us CovConnectsDigital@coventry.gov.uk