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Ahead of Circular Tech Expo, Asset Lifecycle Solutions is sharing just one example of how its commitment to social impact is transforming lives, and inviting you to come and discover what your organisation's end-of-life devices could do.

Social impact is not a side project for Asset Lifecycle Solutions. It is woven into everything the company does, sitting alongside security and sustainability as one of the three pillars that define how ALS operates. The company works with a growing number of charities and community organisations to ensure that end-of-life technology finds its way to the people who need it most, reducing digital poverty and creating real, measurable change across the UK. The story below is just one example of what that commitment looks like in practice.

There is something quietly powerful about a phone that has already had one life being given another. In early 2026, Release Mates, a registered charity run by prison leavers in recovery from addiction who support others through the prison gate and into stable lives, reached out to ALS with a request. Could the company donate a batch of securely recycled smartphones to the people they support? The answer was an enthusiastic yes. Twenty fully wiped, certified devices were handed over, each one ready to be given a fresh start, much like the people who would receive them.

The impact was immediate. People walking out of prison with nothing suddenly had a connection to the world, a way to stay in touch with their support workers, attend probation appointments by video, apply for housing, and access the services they needed to build a stable life. For many, it was the first smartphone they had ever owned.

"Having a phone is a game changer. It gives me a chance now. If it wasn't for you guys I'd be finding my old mates and we all know how that ends." Andrew, released from HMP Liverpool, still out of prison and still abstinent from drugs and alcohol.

Release Mates General Manager Abby Harland described what the phones mean to the people they work with. "Many people have never been shown friendship and compassion before, which is what we offer. After we have left them, it is absolutely crucial that we have a way to contact them and vice versa. The donation of phones from ALS and the relationship we have built with them is invaluable. They see the value in what we do and enjoy being part of our success."

One of those phones went to a man the charity knows as H. He had spent most of his adult life in and out of custody, struggled with learning difficulties, and had never owned a phone. Within days of receiving his ALS donated handset, he was calling the Release Mates team every morning, staying connected to his probation officer, and keeping busy watching videos, something that mattered greatly since boredom had always been a significant trigger for him. At the time of writing, H has gone longer without reoffending than at any point in the last five years. The Release Mates team put it simply: they believe the phone has been the difference.

When organisations choose ALS to handle their end-of-life IT, they are not simply ticking a compliance box. They are becoming part of something that genuinely reaches into communities and changes lives. The Release Mates partnership is one illustration of that, but it is far from the only one.

#LetsCreateMoreBlossom

Blossom is how ALS describes the good that grows from social impact. Every device donated, every charity supported, every individual given access to refurbished technology is a petal, a contribution to reducing digital poverty across the UK and giving people the tools they need to thrive. By strengthening its roots and expanding its reach, ALS believes the tree grows taller and the blossom spreads further. The phones given to Release Mates are blossom. Andrew's freedom is blossom. H's story is blossom. And the devices your organisation retires next could be blossom too.

ALS will be at Circular Tech Expo and the team would love to meet you. Come and hear more about the work ALS does across the charity and community sector, find out how your organisation's retired devices can create real change, and discover what it truly means to give technology a second life.

Find out more at assetlifecycle.co.uk