As High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, I am writing to ask for your assistance. Sadly, there are children in our county who have no access to computer devices to complete their schoolwork. This is particularly acute in Luton where 46% of children are living in some form of poverty. This means children may not reach their potential in education.
Even if schools do reconvene in the next few months, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the injustice of the digital divide, a divide between those who have access to technology and those who do not.
Luton Learning Link has been created with the support of Luton Council Education Service, Luton Council of Mosques, Level Trust, Luton Sunni Council of Mosques to give these children access to digital learning. I am asking if any businesses could donate any unused laptops, PCs or tablets to us. Provision is being made to provide laptops for some children in Year 10 who are receiving free school meals. However, this allocation will not address the needs of other year groups nor will it even fulfil those within the Year 10 group.
I am very aware that businesses are going through a tough time, but I hope that by asking for disused computer devices we will not be making too onerous a demand on your already stretched resources. Indeed, I am hoping that you have recently upgraded your PCs or laptops (or need to) to improve your staff’s ability to work from home. So, if there are a few disused laptops or PCs lurking in a cupboard, we can put them to good use.
If you cannot help us with devices but wish to help by making a donation, then we do have a Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/campaign/lutonlearninglink
Please help us to close this digital divide and help children fulfil their educational potential.
Please email admin@lutonlearninglink.org
With sincere thanks
Susan Lousada DL
High Sheriff of Bedfordshire
www.highsheriffofbedfordshire.com
