Business News Drive to equip children with laptops
A new drive to get laptops to Birmingham children who urgently need them for home schooling is being backed by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Birmingham’s Digital Education
Partnership is aiming to equip thousands of children across the city with connectivity or devices. The initiative was launched after
it emerged as many as 20,000 young people in schools across Birmingham are still suffering from ‘digital poverty’. The Digital Education Partnership
is working with schools and the Early Help Hubs across the city to help families that are most in need. Organisations and individuals
can help the cause by donating old laptops or providing donations. Each donated device will be sent
to partners at Link2ICT to be renewed and repurposed ready to support a family in Birmingham. Tim Boyes, chief executive of the Birmingham Education Partnership, said: “Dealing now with another lockdown and with a considerable increase in school offers online, despite considerable DfE investment in devices for schools, heads are more concerned than
‘The Chamber has committed to do everything we can to promote the excellent work already underway’ – Steve Allen
ever about digital poverty. “This is especially problematic as
it impacts on larger families where every child needs a device. Many who are not the poorest do not have enough appropriate IT and sourcing new machines is again very difficult given global demand.” He added: “Data published by
the DfE show that over 700,000 laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools to date, and the DfE is also offering schemes to
help with free data for the neediest families which has really helped – but we keenly need to go on closing the remaining gaps. “We have setup a JustGiving page
for those interested in donating funds rather than devices. The majority of this money will be used to pay for the cleansing/re-purposing of machines, and where necessary to provide connectivity for a family.” Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is encouraging
businesses to support the cause and president Steve Allen (pictured) said: “I feel a personal sense of injustice that some children from poorer backgrounds are not being afforded the same opportunities merely because their parents can’t afford to provide laptops and/or internet access. “I believe passionately that
children should be given the very best start in life which is why I’m 100 per cent behind the campaign by the City Council and BEP Education to raise money to meet the urgent unmet need of digital poverty. “The Chamber has committed to
do everything we can to promote the excellent work already underway by highlighting the need for businesses to donate unused laptops or by making a contribution to the costs of cleaning and repurposing laptops or aiding connectivity.”
To donate, visit
bep.education/wider- learning/home-learning- technology-support/donate/
To read more on former Asian Business Chamber of Commerce president Qasim Majid’s digital poverty initiative, turn to page 53
February 2021 CHAMBERLINK 43
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