Every Child Online Highlights Digital Inclusion and Online Safety at DTX + UCX London 2026

We joined technology professionals at ExCeL London to showcase how unwanted business technology can make a real difference to communities, while introducing our Safe & Smart online safety initiative.

On 14 and 15 October, we attended DTX + UCX London 2026 as an official charity partner, bringing our work in digital inclusion, technology reuse and children's online safety to one of the UK's leading technology exhibitions.

Held at ExCeL London, the two-day event brought together professionals from across digital transformation, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and business technology.

For us, it was an opportunity to meet businesses that could play an important part in our mission, share what we're working on and show how technology that is no longer needed by one organisation can make a real difference to someone else.

Giving business technology a greater purpose

Every year, businesses replace laptops, computers and other IT equipment as part of their normal upgrade cycles. For many IT departments, disposing of this redundant technology is simply another routine task, something to tick off the list when upgrading equipment.

But just because a device is no longer needed by a business doesn't mean it has reached the end of its useful life.

At Every Child Online, we work with organisations to collect their surplus technology, securely erase data and refurbish devices for reuse wherever possible.

Through our professional IT asset disposal services, we turn equipment that might otherwise be recycled or discarded into a valuable resource. Refurbished devices can go on to support children, schools, charities and disadvantaged communities across the UK, helping more people access technology for education, employment and everyday life.

This creates both social and environmental benefits. By keeping technology in use for longer, businesses can help reduce electronic waste while making a meaningful contribution towards tackling digital exclusion.

For donating businesses, there is also an opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact of something they already need to do.

With environmental sustainability and social value increasingly influencing procurement decisions, organisations are under growing pressure to provide credible evidence of their social and environmental contributions.

By partnering with us, businesses can turn an existing operational requirement into measurable social value, supporting their ESG objectives, strengthening tender submissions and demonstrating a genuine commitment to their communities.

The real benefit is that businesses receive a reliable, professional and secure IT asset disposal service while generating measurable social and environmental value, all at no cost to them.

Throughout DTX + UCX, we wanted to show businesses that donating surplus technology is more than simply getting rid of unwanted equipment. It's an opportunity to make their existing processes work harder, creating positive outcomes for both their organisation and the wider community.

Introducing Safe & Smart to the technology industry

Alongside our device refurbishment work, we were also excited to introduce more people to Safe & Smart, our children's online safety initiative.

One of the highlights was showcasing our brand-new comic book, Pico's Digital Adventures.

The comic uses colourful characters, relatable stories and interactive activities to help children understand some of the challenges they might come across online.

From spotting scams and protecting personal information to recognising cyberbullying and dealing with uncomfortable situations, the stories help children learn how to make safer choices online.

We believe online safety education should be engaging, accessible and easy for children to understand, which is exactly what we've tried to achieve with the comic.

Bringing Safe & Smart to DTX + UCX also gave us the opportunity to introduce the initiative to businesses interested in supporting online safety education, whether through partnerships, educational resources or community initiatives.

Building partnerships beyond DTX + UCX

One of the most interesting things we discovered through conversations at our stand was just how many people were unaware of the digital divide in the UK. Some visitors knew about digital inclusion initiatives in other parts of the world but hadn't realised that similar challenges exist here, or that charities like Every Child Online are working to tackle them.

For us, this highlighted exactly why attending events like DTX + UCX is so important. It's not just about meeting potential partners or encouraging businesses to donate their unwanted technology. It's also about raising awareness of an issue that often goes unnoticed and showing the technology industry how it can be part of the solution.

Reflecting on the event, Mike Tarbard from Every Child Online said:

"DTX + UCX has been a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with businesses across the technology industry and introduce our work to people who may not have heard of us before.

"What really stood out was how many people didn't realise that digital exclusion is still such a significant issue here in the UK. It shows exactly why events like this are so important for charities like ours.

"Being here gives us the opportunity to raise awareness, build relationships and show businesses how they can make a genuine difference. We're really grateful to DTX + UCX for giving us that platform, and we're excited to see what comes from the conversations we've had."

We believe businesses have a real opportunity to make a difference. Whether through donating surplus IT equipment, supporting online safety education or getting involved in community initiatives, there are plenty of ways to help more people access the technology and opportunities they need.

We hope the conversations started at DTX + UCX will lead to lasting partnerships and, just as importantly, a greater understanding of digital exclusion in the UK.

Find out more at www.everychildonline.co.uk.

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