More than a million laptops have been sent to needy pupils during lockdown in £400m boost for Mail Force drive
- Total of 1,055,745 devices have been delivered to students who need them most
- Deliveries allow children to complete vital schoolwork at home during lockdown
- The Government programme has also allowed thousands of families to receive additional data from mobile operators to help children without internet access
More than one million laptops and tablets have been sent to disadvantaged schoolchildren across the country in a trailblazing £400million investment by the Government.
A total of 1,055,745 devices have been delivered to students who need them most to ensure their education can continue during the pandemic, official statistics revealed yesterday.
With lockdown for schools and colleges expected to remain until at least March 8, the deliveries are proving vital for children without digital access to remote learning.
More than one million laptops and tablets have been sent to disadvantaged schoolchildren across the UK in a trailblazing £400million investment supported by Mail Force campaign
Pictured: For 12-year-old triplets Sandra, Daniel and Manuel Naduvila, from Southampton, there is a strict pecking order but all can now complete school work on newly delivered laptop
The milestone marks a huge success for the programme to help needy pupils, which is supported by Mail Force’s own Computers for Kids campaign.
The Mail Force initiative – run in conjunction with the Government’s drive to supply 1.3million devices to disadvantaged students – has raised £10.7million in pledges of cash and computers.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘I know what a challenging period this has been for pupils, teachers and parents, but it has been nothing short of inspiring to see schools and staff going above and beyond, as they always have, to give our pupils the very best education.
‘Online access has been an important part of this work and will continue to be as we help young people catch up after the disruption caused by the pandemic, which is why the delivery of these laptops is so vital.
‘They represent one million children who will not let their education be overcome by this virus.
‘I want parents to know we’ll continue to do everything we can to protect children’s education at this unprecedented time.’
The Government programme has also allowed thousands of families to receive additional data from mobile operators to help children without internet access get online to access educational resources from home.
The Department for Education has also made £4.84million available for online video lessons from Oak National Academy across a range of subjects for Reception up to Year 11. A further £300million is being invested in tutoring programmes.
The Government has also welcomed the boost from Mail Force’s campaign, which was launched last month.
Pledges have flooded in from business, philanthropists and generous readers, who have donated more than £760,000 online and sent in cheques worth more than £800,000.
Among the online contributions was £30 from two grandparents with the message: ‘In lieu of our granddaughter’s birthday present. She wants to support other children who are not as lucky as her.’
Mail Force is supplying new and second-hand computers – refurbished by our expert IT partners for around £15 – and is looking at other ways of helping students access online learning.
HOW TO DONATE TO COMPUTERS FOR KIDS
TO YOU, THE READER: How to send us donations
The Daily Mail has launched a brand new campaign, Computers For Kids, to raise money for Mail Force – a charity which aims to provide much needed school equipment and resources for pupils across the UK learning from home.
With schools closed, we are left with the dilemma of hundreds of thousands of pupils in the UK having no access to a computer in their home.
As part of this campaign, companies are donating their old laptops which, for around £15, can be wiped, professionally refurbished and made safe and fit for home schooling. They can then be delivered to a child or young person who needs one.
In addition, the campaign is looking to support children’s needs in other ways such as funding brand new laptops and tablets, and assisting with data access and connectivity for online learning. Any surplus funds will be used to support of the work of UK schools via other means.
TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE
Visit mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate and follow the steps to complete your donation.
Please don’t send us your old device.
TO COMPANIES: Could you give your old laptops?
Upgrading office computers is something all companies do from time to time – and there has never been a better time to donate old laptops. If you are a company with 50 laptops or more that you could give, please visit www.computacenter.com/daily-mail to check they are suitable and register your donation. We will arrange for collection by our specialist partners Computacenter. Please note: we cannot accept donated laptops from individuals.
COMPANIES SHOULD GO TO: computacenter.com/daily-mail
TO SCHOOLS: Where to apply for the computers
Schools must apply to the Department for Education, which is managing the demand and prioritising the schools most in need. The Mail Force initiative means more laptops will become available more quickly.
SCHOOLS CAN APPLY HERE: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk