Charity secures more than 700 IT devices for disadvantaged children

Tuesday 05 January 2021

A local charity has secured funding to purchase more than 700 computers and smart devices to ensure children of all backgrounds can access virtual learning.

The £200,000 boost facilitated by Every Child Our Future will help students from D’Auvergne, Rouge Bouillon, Plat Douet, St. Luke’s, Janvrin, and Les Quennevais Schools.

It continues the organisation's work from last year in helping disadvantaged children with their education, having previously helped fund three summer schools for 276 children hit by the covid closures.

The latest push for digital devices comes as schooling from home has become more prominent than ever in the wake of covid, and more disadvantaged children struggle to keep up due to a lack of access to devices such as iPads or computers.

Pictured: Covid restrictions have meant that significant portions of learning are now done online.

This year, a Government report considering responses from 1,911 parents and carers saw 47% of children who had English as another language or were Jersey Premium funded saying that they had to share access to a computer with their family at home.

The charity’s plans coincide with the news that the new school term has been delayed until next week to ensure a new testing programme is properly set up before students’ return.