George Cook

George started refurbishing computers for charities in 1996 with a donation of 300 PCs from BP. In 1997 “CyberCycle” pioneered the government’s ‘New Deal’ six month work experience programme for the young unemployed, working with Tony Blair MP (and later Gordon Brown MP),  and setting up 20 refurbishing projects around the UK. The Prince’s Responsible Business Network ‘Business in the Community’ (BITC) arranged “Seeing is Believing” visits by business leaders; HRH The Prince of Wales’ concern for the environment was 40 years ahead of his time and we are still working in partnership with BITC today.

In 2004 Microsoft invited George to lead on its internal project “Digital Pipeline”, which set up an IT workshop in Namibia and also shipped 25,000 PC systems to Africa from the Department for Work and Pensions. In 2006 this project was incorporated into a charity and Bill Gates recorded a personal video to support it. COVID-19 led to a change of ‘Working Name’ from “Computers 4 Africa” to “Computers 4 Charity” as it turned to donating to young carers, homeless youth, hospices, charity volunteers, unemployed veterans and bereaved forces children. In 2021 ACER launched the Aspire Vero laptop made from recycled plastic and designed to be infinitely repairable, in partnership with George’s charity.