The Harpur Trust today made a public appeal for donations of spare laptops to support Bedford Borough pupils with their remote learning.
The Trust is lending its support to the scheme which has been set up by FACES, a Bedford based charity which provides emotional and practical support to families under stress.
Every laptop received will be reprogrammed and issued out to some of the families they work with.
Wendie Harvey CEO of FACES said: “Some of our families are sharing one SmartPhone between multiple adults and children.
“We are extremely concerned about the lack of access to technology for our families knowing that this will increase the poverty and education gap and so we are really pleased to have the backing of The Harpur Trust in our appeal for laptops.”
Earlier this week, the Harpur Trust announced that it was purchasing 110 laptops to provide to disadvantaged pupils living in digital poverty across the borough.
Director of Community Programmes for the Trust said: “We are doing everything we can think of to ensure that local pupils receive the equipment they need to continue their education, and with so many likely to be working remotely for the foreseeable future, we need to ensure that no-one falls behind simply because they lack a digital device.”
The scheme is also endorsed by High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Susan Lousada who has been working with the Luton Learning Link to provide computers for disadvantaged pupils in Luton. “Access to learning is close to my heart and I believe every child should have the ability to fully participate. Providing them with devices will close the digital divide and allow children to fulfil their potential.”
Members of the public and local businesses are being asked to get in touch if they have spare laptops which are in working order and have power cables.
For details, please visit www.harpurtrust.org.uk/laptops
