Children's charity gets silicon.com support

A charity aimed at helping the children of single parents is being prevented from expanding by a lack of IT equipment.

But silicon.com is to start the ball rolling for the IT industry by donating equipment of its own. BigBrother&Sisters, which has been active for almost 100 years in the USA, is starting a national organisation in Britain but needs to improve its IT infrastructure "At this stage we don't need very much," says Abby Dyson, projects director. "We need simple things like a bigger hard disc for the server and basic things to upgrade our network." In the longer term they would like help with database development, internet and intranets, support and training. Making the donation of hardware on behalf of silicon.com, CEO Rob Lewis said he was pleased to contribute to such a worthwhile cause. "As business recognises that it must contribute to the wider society, it is undoubtedly important that we all ensure more is done to help those less fortunate than ourselves," he said The charity organises screened volunteers over the age of 21 who can spend time with children between six and 16 to provide help and friendship. The UK arm became operational two years ago and it has been endorsed by central government, two departments of which have seconded employees to work in the charity's South West London offices. BigBrother&Sisters has opened its first active branch in Bristol and further projects are due to open across the country as funding becomes available. The charity is aiming to have 80 branches and 5,500 working mentors in three years time. The organisation has 1,000 branches across North America BigBrother&Sisters can be contracted through their website at http://www.mentors.org.uk