SWL has created a round-up of five groups across south and south west London that are receiving laptops and tablets as donations, which are being distributed to help school children with online learning.
Pupils across England are online learning following the announcement of school closures on Monday due to rising cases of coronavirus.
This comes as the government faces criticisms over a digital divide, with growing concerns about the disproportional impact on disadvantaged pupils who face difficulties accessing laptops and the internet.
Ofcom figures suggest that up to 1.78 million children in the UK have no home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet.
Although government guidance now states that pupils in England who can’t access laptops are in the “vulnerable children” category and can continue to attend school for face-to-face learning, many remain concerned.
- Keep Kids Connected: Dons Local Action Group – Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston
Founded by AFC Wimbledon fans in March 2020, Dons Local Action Group created Keep Kids Connected to tackle digital poverty in the community.
It’s delivered over 1,000 laptops and tablets across the boroughs of Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston.
It accepts laptops and tablets which are less than eight years old which are then wiped, fixed and delivered directly to local schools.
It also accepts donations through for essential items for online learning such as a computer mouse on an Amazon wishlist.
Contact them here to donate your laptop/tablet or purchase wish-list items.
2. Lambeth TechAid
Founded in March 2020 in response to the pandemic, Lambeth TechAid receives donations of laptops, tablets and mobile phones which are donated to local schools and also women’s aid groups, disability, refugee and other community organisations.
Donate a device here.
3. Power to Connect – Wandsworth
Set up by Wandsworth Council, Battersea Power Station (BPS) and community partners, Power to Connect collectives laptops and tablets and provides an emergency phone data top-up fund to support families who are running out of data in lockdown.
Donate your working device here.
4. Ready Tech Go
Ready Tech Go is a non-profit aimed at providing internet access and basic technology to residents across West London.
It distributes donated laptops and tablets to those in poverty and isolation.
Donate a laptop or tablet here.
5. Catbytes – Lewisham
Catbytes refurbishes and distributes donated digital equipment to families and children who have no computer or internet connection, people and those who are socially isolated.
Donate your tech here.
