Project will tackle digital divide among youngsters
A major new project has been launched to help tackle the digital divide among youngsters in a city.
Wolves TechAid aims to collect donated laptops, tablets and other devices and offer them to schools so children can learn online.
The project has been launched by Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden and LearnPlay Foundation, who are appealing for people and businesses to donate equipment for the cause.
During the pandemic the Department for Education and Wolverhampton Council have provided laptops for youngsters in the city, but some schools say children have been trying to do lessons through parents’ mobile phones due to not having access to the right equipment.
Mr McFadden said that with online learning set to be a big part of education in the future, some children could lose out due to gaps in provision.
He said: “There will be a continuing need for online learning and as education becomes more digital, we have to ensure it doesn’t become more unequal.
“We need to do everything we can to make sure children don’t lose out because they don’t have the right equipment.
“Donations of used computers which can be recycled and put back into use can make a massive difference to a young child’s life.
“It could be the difference between being able to catch up with what has been lost and that child losing out forever.
“That’s why we are appealing for equipment to be donated which can be digitally cleaned and made ready for educational use.”
Exacerbated
The scheme has been backed by the city council, which is providing collection points, Wolves Foundation, and local author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera.
He said: “I grew up on free school meals in Wolverhampton, in a household where even books were too expensive for us.
“It’s all too easy to see how there will be households in this pandemic which do not have the right kit for online learning.
“I think it’s a great idea if people can donate equipment they no longer use or need to help children learn.”
LearnPlay managing director Ro Hands said the pandemic had seen an increase in the number of young people not in education or employment.
“We want to help reduce this figure so this generation does not increase it in years to come,” he said. “Every computer donated through this initiative will make a difference.”
Tom Warren of Wolves Foundation said: “The pandemic has exacerbated so many issues, with digital poverty being one that has really been brought to the forefront with children not being at school with lockdown, and the ongoing issue of classes being sent home due to positive cases in school.
“Therefore it’s vital that the learning of these pupils isn’t affected any more, by partnering with these other great organisations we aim to reduce that divide.”
Visit www.wolvestechaid.com for information on donations.
