An innovative scheme to stop large companies dumping computers and donate them instead to schools, was launched yesterday by London's mayor Ken Livingstone.

Up to 1m young people in the capital are likely to benefit from a partnership between charity Tools for Schools and London First, a business organisation.

The partnership, under the slogan "Access IT", is confident of installing up to 100,000 computers over the next three years.

Many firms replace their PCs every two to three years and the old ones often end up in skips.

But Tools for Schools, which was co-founded by the Guardian, will pick up the equipment and then refurbish it to a standard that at least matches the requirements of the National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education. The schools pay £65 per computer.

Mr Livingstone said: "I said in my manifesto we needed to tackle the shortage of IT skills in London and Access IT is a practical way of doing this. I have one message for business - don't throw away your old PCs and don't sell them off cheap either; give them to Access IT and let school children benefit."

Companies that already support the Tools for Schools initiative include eight banks and finance houses, including Abbey National, as well as media and oil companies.

• Any organisation considering making a donation can call London First on 020-7665-1500.