Mayor leads laptop drive
ASHBOURNE’S mayor is spearheading a campaign that aims to ensure all the town’s children have access to computers so they can learn from home during the lockdown.
Sean Clayton is appealing for donations of unwanted laptop and tablet computers which can then be wiped clean and given to parents whose children need access to online learning.
The idea for the scheme came after it was revealed that many families across the country do not have access to computers.
Ashbourne Primary School staff say government support which is intended to ensure technology is made available for all families is not going far enough.
According to the Cokayne Avenue school’s head teacher Paula Whysall, more than 30 of her pupils need access to online learning, but only four computers have been handed out so far. It is believed other schools in the area may be facing the same issues.
Mr Clayton’s new campaign will see donated laptops sent to Belper Road-based computer shop Code Red Computers, which has agreed to check over and wipe the machines free of charge, and then they can be distributed to families who the schools identify as being in need.
The Laptops for Learners campaign was only started last week, but machines have already started being sent in, and Ashbourne Rotary Club – which has been exploring a similar idea – has offered to help with collecting and delivering machines.
Mr Clayton said: “Children who can’t go to school at the moment, because of the lockdown, should be able to access the internet to learn from home.
“They should all have the technology to get their education. But I’d seen on the news that not all pupils have access to a computer, so I contacted Ashbourne Primary School to see how many children there did not have access to technology and they told me 32 have no access to it at all.
“So I thought if I could get a laptop or two donated, made safe for the children and wiped clean, would we be able to distribute them to the children?
That’s how it t all started. And nd we’ve had d a good response so far. People have been very generous.”
A page was set up on Facebook k outlining the campaign’s aims and asking a for fina financial suppo port, as well as donati tions of old l laptops. So far nearly £100 has been raised, which will help to pay for mobile internet access, and a handful of computers have already been pledged. The first tablets and laptops should be ready by next week.
Other primary schools in the area will be contacted by the campaign once it has started taking off properly.
Mr Clayton said: “This thing may only go on for two or three months and hopefully by the summer holidays it will have all gone away and the kids can keep the laptops.
“But for now it’s urgent, it’s not something we need in a week’s time or a month’s time, the urgency is here now. So we all need to help if we can.”
Anyone wanting to donate computers can either drop them off at Code Red Computers, or contact Mr Clayton on 07891 052736.
For more information, or to donate to the fund, search Facebook for Laptops for Learners.
It’s not something we need in a week’s time or a months time, the urgency is here now.
Mayor Sean Clayton