Families given lift as laptops handed out
More than 15 families, schools and organisations were given the gift of connectivity as the first set of laptops from a newly formed body sponsored by a Bath firm were distributed.
Bath-based solicitor Mogers Drewett became the corporate sponsor of the Wiltshire Digital Drive last year to fund the first round of refurbishment.
Since then, the Wiltshire Digital Drive has approved 26 applications for technology to support young people and adults in the county who cannot afford to buy their own.
St John’s C of E Primary School in Tisbury, Wiltshire, was one of the successful applicants.
Lisa Beavis, the school’s business manager, said: “We have a number of very low-income families who simply cannot afford to buy laptops for their children to use.
“Online learning is now a vital part of children’s education, from homework to accessing work if a family is isolating.”
Sean Mcdonough, partner at Mogers Drewett, said: “As we enter a third lockdown, the work that the Wiltshire Digital Drive is doing is more important than ever.
“Home schooling is hard but near impossible without the necessary IT and we are urging more companies to support this amazing charity.
The Richard Fellowship, who help people with mental health recovery and social inclusion were also awarded five machines to complement a programme of work they are doing to support people across digital platforms and social networks.
Jonathan Baker, service manager, added: “Richmond Fellowship are very grateful to have received the donation of IT equipment from the Wiltshire Digital Drive.
“It is a great initiative of recycling and donating computer equipment that they are undertaking and fits perfectly with our ethos.
“The equipment will be a great resource for our Digital Inclusion programme and help those facing mental health challenges find some real benefits”