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Right then.
On 20 September, I'll be running the Shoreditch Half Marathon, raising money for Screen Share. Screen Share is an incredible and important organisation - and not just because they employ me!
Working towards the digital inclusion of refugees in the UK, we provide access to digital devices, connectivity, digital skills and repair training: the digital foundation refugees need to rebuild their lives.
Whether we like it or not, the modern world is digital. It's a reality we have to accept, and with that, one we must make work for all. Without the ability to engage in the digital world, refugees find themselves stuck, isolated from their communities and prevented from accessing essential services, finding housing or employment. Our goal is to ensure they can thrive in a society that will only continue to be shaped by technology.
Separately, these are also people who have suffered tremendous hardship and should be able to speak to their families or listen to music - just like the rest of us. I, for one, can't imagine modern life without my carefully curated playlists or daily intake of Arsenal transfer news.
My aim is to raise £1500. Because of our refurbishment and reuse model, this is roughly equivalent to 18 laptops. That's 18 lives changed, not including the families that will inevitably also use these devices.
Digital support is different to other provisions. It gives refugees agency and independence and says: "go get it". In times that are incredibly tough for refugees in the UK, join me in saying the same.
