Street Soccer Foundation launches tech recycling scheme

The Street Soccer Foundation has launched The Big Green Goal, a scheme that links unwanted business technology to funding credits for The Big Goal membership programme.

The initiative targets organisations with unused laptops, desktops, mobile phones, tablets, servers, monitors and networking equipment. Through a partnership with IT asset recovery specialist ICT Reverse, those items can be collected, processed and recycled, with any residual value donated to the charity on behalf of the participating business.

That value is converted into membership credits for future membership of The Big Goal, a business-backed programme run by the foundation to support young people affected by homelessness and disadvantage. The model gives companies a way to deal with redundant technology while also contributing to social programmes.

The launch reflects growing interest among companies in managing electronic waste and showing environmental and social outcomes from existing assets. It also puts the technology channel at the centre of a funding model tied to equipment that might otherwise sit unused in offices or storage.

How it works

Businesses register unwanted equipment, and ICT Reverse arranges collection and processing. The partner handles data security and recycling, while recovered value depends on the type, age and condition of the devices.

The membership credits created through the scheme can only be used against future membership of The Big Goal. They are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The Big Green Goal extends The Big Goal, which brings together businesses from the technology sector and other industries to back youth opportunity programmes. The Street Soccer Foundation uses football-based academies and employability support to work with young people facing homelessness or severe disadvantage.

Keith Mabbutt, Founder and CEO, Street Soccer Foundation, said: "Most organisations have redundant technology sitting unused somewhere in their business, and they already have a responsibility to dispose of it properly. The Big Green Goal gives them a simple way to turn that obligation into something positive.

"By recycling unwanted technology responsibly, businesses can reduce electronic waste, create measurable social value and build credit towards their future membership of The Big Goal. It is what we believe is the UK's simplest ESG action: one straightforward decision that helps businesses, helps the environment and helps create life-changing opportunities for young people."

The model was developed and tested with a small group of early participating organisations before the wider launch. Those companies included Giacom, Voiceworks UK and Fifteen Group.

According to the charity, those early participants helped shape the operating process for businesses that want to recycle equipment and convert recovered value into support for the programme. Giacom, also the headline sponsor of The Big Goal, was the first organisation to use the service before the broader rollout.

Early backing

Terry O'Brien, CEO, Giacom, said: "At Giacom, we immediately recognised The Big Green Goal as an incredibly smart and practical initiative - one that every technology business should be making use of.

"Through The Big Green Goal, we now have a simple solution that not only supports responsible recycling and sustainability goals, but also directly helps fund life-changing opportunities for vulnerable young people across the UK. It's an absolute no-brainer."

The Street Soccer Foundation was established in 2015 and works with professional football clubs, employers and community groups. Its programmes combine football with personal development, wellbeing, education and employability support for young people seeking routes into work, training and independent living.

For participating businesses, the scheme creates a direct link between IT disposal and future membership costs within the foundation's employer network. For the charity, it opens another funding route without requiring a separate cash contribution when equipment is handed over.

The proposition is likely to appeal most to medium-sized and large organisations with regular device refresh cycles, where batches of hardware can retain some resale or recovery value. Companies with formal environmental, social and governance reporting may also see the scheme as a practical way to document equipment reuse, recycling and charitable support through a single process.

ICT Reverse, which works in IT asset disposal and recycling, is responsible for collecting and securely handling the devices. It has more than 25 years of experience serving UK and European organisations, according to background information issued alongside the launch.

Many businesses already hold equipment that is no longer in active use, making the initiative a way to turn dormant assets into support for young people who need access to opportunity. Recovered values depend on the condition of the hardware handed in.