The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) are re-distributing laptops and tablets to children in local schools and charities to support them with homework and education.
The scheme has supported children with their homework and education and other adults who are at a digital disadvantage, such as the elderly and refugees.
In partnership with Ealing Council, devices that have been donated by the public or have been recycled are being assessed, refurbished, and given out to individual children in local schools.
Ealing Councillor, Steve Donnelly, the council’s cabinet member for inclusive economy, said: “In today’s digital age, access to technology is essential for academic success and equal opportunities for all generations. Providing children with the necessary tools to complete their homework and engage with online learning, means we are bridging the digital divide and empowering students to reach their full potential.
“We want to ensure that everyone has access to necessary technologies to create a more equitable environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive.”
Over 19% of Ealing residents currently do not have access to a digital device at home, severely impacting those who rely on digital access either for education or for basic daily functions such as paying bills, applying for jobs or for medical consultations.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “This initiative has been a great way of Ealing residents taking real action to support their community. With over 1.6 million people in the UK and over 270,000 in London alone, not having access to a digital device, so many are being left behind and are in need of support to ensure they can get online.
In the weeks following the launch of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, the importance of schemes such as the Donate Your Device Scheme in Ealing becomes that much more apparent. Through donating, refurbishing and redistributing devices, we can continue to bring people back online and get unused devices out of drawers and into homes that need them.”
