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Just thought I’d tell you about Computer Aid’s main competitor in the UK – a little known charity called Digital Links. If you compare the hard statistics, they actually do a much better job of sending computers to the developing world. I don’t work for Digital Links, I just like to know where my computers and money are going, hence I did some basic research.

Compare the stats in Computer Aid’s annual report with the stats from the Digital Links annual report, both of which are accessible from the Charity Commission web site.

Computer Aid had a total income of £1.7m and shipped 22,365 computers in the year ending March 2007. This works out as costing £76 to ship each computer. Each member of the 20 staff contributed to sending 1,100 computers to the developing world.

Digital Links shipped 20,400 computers in the year ending September 2006. In this year it had an income of £646,457. This works out as costing £31 to ship each computer. Each member of the four staff contributed to shipping 5,100 computers.

Anyway, think about these facts next time you’re deciding what to do with your computers. There are lots of charities crying out for computer donations, so why not research them before making your decision.

John Smith