Declaration of the Aims of G.A.C.

My name is John Marlow. I set up the organisation and I am now the Coordinator (posh name).

You will have read how the idea came about on the 'Why we help' page, but you may have doubts still about the motives behind the scheme. I'll try to explain a little more here.

Is it really a free service?

Quick and blunt answer, YES! Of course this kind of venture does cost money. It costs myself and the other volunteers money for the petrol we use running around and collecting bits and pieces. It costs us money in phone calls ringing companies and asking for donations. These costs will always be met out of our own pockets so please understand if we cannot venture too far from our base to collect items, this is down to the cost of transport.

Are all the donated items givens away?

No! We cannot give some of the systems away as they do not meet the requirements for the task. These computers we strip down and use every part imaginable. We only ever discard what we just cannot put to use (example, a broken monitor) No parts, or systems are ever sold. Every complete system we produce will be given to someone either nominated by social services or by their own family members.

Is there any cost to the recipient?

No, and yes. We will give them a free PC, we will offer free advice and help using the new system, we will provide free support and a home website. However there will be a cost. When using the internet they will of course incur telephone charges that they will have to meet the cost of. This will be explained from the outset and is the only cost involved to them. We will offer an unbiased opinion on the options they have when choosing an ISP (pay as you go, monthly package etc) and we will help set up the connection. There is no obligation to sign up for net access but we feel that there are many benefits that can be gained from using the internet, especially for the housebound, elderly and disabled.

Do you accept sponsorship of any kind?

Yes. You want to put your company name on a mouse mat and donate it, great, we don't care as long as we can get our hands on the items we need. Please take a look at the 'Sponsor Me!!' page.

Are you an ISP? Want to offer the recipients here a cut price connection deal (remember, they are all elderly, housebound or disabled!) in return for pre-installing your software? Then please contact me.

Are you a software house with an old version that is no longer on sale? Would you like to supply it pre-installed on our machines for the use of our recipients? Then please contact me.

 Do you accept money donations?

No! We will never ask for money. We will only ever ask for and accept items we can use in the project, in fact we will grovel on bended knee if it means we can get someone to donate an old modem or mouse.

If you do wish to help then we would be glad to receive any small items you may like to purchase for us like cheap speakers etc. Please check our "What we need" page for the items we currently require (or ask us by phone or email)

Still have doubts?

Well, use the contact page to ask me any questions. If you still doubt our motives then please consider donating your items to another scheme, BUT PLEASE DON'T THROW YOUR REDUNDANT EQUIPMENT AWAY.

John Marlow

And team

Chris Clayton