Join our appeal to get laptops for Herefordshire schoolkids

Without a laptop of their own, pupils can be faced with accessing lessons from a parent’s mobile phone.

There are concerns this can have a detrimental effect on a child’s future, which is why the Hereford Times is launching a new campaign.

The Hereford Times Laptops Appeal, in partnership with Laptops 2 Kids Herefordshire, is taking spare devices, securely erasing all data, and giving them to those in need.

Tim Brett, a parent from Ross-on-Wye, is leading the campaign after seeing first-hand as a Hereford Academy governor the issue and having a desire to “do something about it”.

Tim Brett with laptops which have been donated to children at Riverside Primary School, with other schools across the county also set to benefit. Picture: Rob Davies

Mr Brett, 46, said the digital divide is about families who don’t have access to much technology, which can leave some children behind their peers as they don’t have online skills.

He hopes the campaign will, as well as immediately helping children access lessons at home, close the gap.

To donate a laptop or make a monetary contribution visit: bit.ly/HTlaptop

One of the schools already benefitting from the scheme in Riverside Primary School in Hereford.

Headteacher Emma Shearer said the children are already “benefitting hugely” as a problem for some households is a parent is working from home and is using the only laptop.

“The children needing to use it as well makes it very difficult, or there are multiple children in the house and they’re sharing a device,” she said.

“We are trying to match the online provision to support all of the families, but realistically without a reasonable quality device they are going to find it harder.”