#Chances4Children: Schemes aim to close digital divide
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Charities and mobile networks are among organisations working to close the digital divide affecting disadvantaged children as pupils prepare to return to school.
Disaster relief agency Samaritan’s Purse is offering £130,000 worth of laptops and tablets to church groups supporting children who have difficulty accessing online learning.
The Learning in Lockdown initiative aims to equip local churches to meet the needs of their communities.
-
Analysis: Lockdown widens digital divide
-
Lockdown response: how services deliver vital support for children
It follows the charity’s This is Love campaign, which launched in March last year and saw 500 churches, organisations and community groups receive either free PPE kits or emergency cash grants to help meet the urgent needs within their local areas.
Churches can now apply for laptops and tablets which meet government learning requirements, the charity says.
It has so far purchased 530 devices aimed at varying age groups.
Tablets have been purchased for children in primary school years one to four, while basic laptops have been provided for children in school years five and above.
Darren Tosh, UK executive director of Samaritan’s Purse, said: “Our experience in disaster areas around the world has taught us that during times of crisis like this, meaningful partnerships can be forged between churches and their communities.
“We want to stand in the gap for churches and organisations helping to care for those facing the challenges that come with home-learning, and hope a small gift of a laptop or tablet will make a big difference in the life of a child struggling to engage with school.”
Meanwhile, Vodafone has announced it will donate 10,000 dongle devices to charity Business2Schools, which will distribute them to registered schools in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The mobile network has also made a £200,000 donation to the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Learn at Home campaign which will enable the charity to distribute 500 computer kits to disadvantaged young people and provide specialist training to youth workers so they can teach digital and coding skills.
Ahmed Essam, chief executive at Vodafone UK, said: “As the education recovery mission begins, both face-to-face and online learning will be crucial, so it’s vitally important that every young person has access to connectivity.
“These donations will give thousands more children access to the internet and I’m delighted we’re working with specialists in tackling digital exclusion – Business2Schools and the Raspberry Pi Foundation – to deliver connectivity where it is needed most.”
Schools can register with Business2Schools here.
Churches, organisations and community groups can apply for laptops and tablets for members of their community through Samaritan’s Purse website www.samaritans-purse.org.uk