Simplyhealth gift Chromebooks to help local schools and families with online home schooling
Simplyhealth have gifted 200 Chromebook laptops to support local schools and families with online home schooling due to schools closing as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Chromebooks have been delivered to The Longmeadow Centre at Romsey Community Services (RCS), to be distributed to families in need of equipment across the Test Valley area.
At a time when school closures are necessary to control the spread of the pandemic it is important that the most disadvantaged children in our communities are not put at further disadvantage by lack of access to the means of learning in a digital classroom environment.
It has been estimated that in the UK, one million children and their families do not have adequate access to a device or connectivity at home1. Not having access to a computer, laptop or tablet highlights the existing inequalities between households and the UK government have recently announced plans to tackle digital inequality in education during the COVID-19 pandemic2. Furthermore, there has been media coverage from Rugby star Maro Itoje in a bid to tackle the digital divide across the UK.
We are so pleased that Simplyhealth are able to support many families in the local area with our donation of Chromebooks to the Romsey Community Service. Due to changes in our IT equipment, we wanted to gift these Chromebooks to those who could benefit.
For many children, this will be a lifeline to accessing their online school work so that they don’t fall behind with their education during this difficult time. Simplyhealth have also made a further 50 devices available for colleagues to use to support with online home schooling.
Jason Catlin-Holmes, Head of IT Service Delivery at Simplyhealth
We are delighted to work with Simplyhealth to be able to help the schools and families of Test Valley to continue their learning. Families are facing new challenges with online home schooling and this simple act of kindness has been greatly received. It is helping them to access digital learning where they have not been able to before.
Wendy Masterson, Community Development Manager at Romsey Community Services
RCS is a community organisation that works across Hampshire to provide a variety of supporting activities for adults, children and families. They are a not-for-profit organisation who is proactive and reactive to the needs of the communities that they serve.
1 https://www.educationdevelopmenttrust.com/our-research-and-insights/commentary/bridging-the-digital-divide-evidence-and-advice-on
2 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-laptops-and-tablets-for-children-who-cannot-attend-school-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
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