Mail Force Charity, which gave over 42 million items of PPE to the NHS and charitable organisations last year, has launched a new fundraising drive called Computers for Kids.
With schools closed, up to a million pupils are struggling with accessing lessons from home due to a lack of equipment. Computers for Kids aims to ensure all Britain’s schoolchildren are equipped with a laptop or computer tablet – so no child is prevented from learning during the lockdown.
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.
The campaign launched on Saturday, and within 48 hours has already raised a staggering £250,000. Thousands of contributions have flooded in from philanthropists and Daily Mail readers, coupled with heartfelt messages of support.
The new initiative was hailed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, all the main teaching unions, and the Children’s Commissioner for England yesterday.
Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Select Committee, said: “The deepening divide between the haves and have-nots has been exposed all too clearly by coronavirus. I salute the Mail for all they are doing.”
Please visit mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate to make a donation. Please don’t send us your old device.
Companies who would like to give old tech should go to computacenter.com/daily-mail
Schools can apply to receive equipment here: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk
