Nearly 7000 laptops set to be handed to children across South Yorkshire

The Laptop for Kids charity now has enough child-friendly Dell laptops to supply most of the borough.

The laptops will be used so pupils can access remote learning during the pandemic.

Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield councils will now distribute the devices to schools, who will then share the laptops with households in need.

Laptops for Kids launched in Sheffield in September 2020 in response to the number of households unable to take part in online lessons and has expanded to other northern towns and cities.

The Children’s Commissioner estimated that nine per cent of families are without a laptop, desktop or tablet at home.

David Richards, the technology entrepreneur who co-founded the campaign, said: “While it is welcome news that schools are reopening, we have to be prepared for more disruption in the coming months.

“Children must be able to safely access technology at home so they can keep up with their education and develop digital skills for the future.

“We applaud local government leaders in South Yorkshire for stepping up to meet the need and invest in the next generation of successful young people.”

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “Our young people have been hit hard by Covid, with many experiencing almost a year of disruption to their learning.

“Here in South Yorkshire we’re leading the way on tackling digital exclusion. In partnership with our local councils and Laptops for Kids, we’re ensuring that every young person has a brand-new laptop and internet connection – to minimise disruption to their education.

“I’ve always said that where you grow up should not determine where you end up, and I’m proud that we’re making that a reality in South Yorkshire.”

Rotherham Council is investing in a further 500 laptops, on top of the 1,500 donated by local employer AESSEAL plc.

Councillor Gordon Watson, deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services said: “We are delighted once again to be teaming up with Laptops for Kids to distribute a further 500 laptops to children in Rotherham, bringing the total number of children supported who would not otherwise have had access to online learning to more than 2,000.

“With disruption to in-school learning likely to continue in the immediate future, this will provide a lifeline to learning for children. I am proud that the laptop rollout in Rotherham has been a true community effort between the council, local business and the Laptops for Kids charity.”

AESSEAL, a global manufacturing group headquartered in Rotherham, has also donated £100,000 to buy dongles for connecting 10,000 households to the internet.

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