Are you trying to get hold of devices for your school/ child to enable them access remote learning?
Do you want to help by donating an old tablet/device?
Below we have curated a list of groups who are:
a) Accepting device and monetary donations to buy devices
b) Connecting these devices to schools and the children that need them.
Please continue to send us any other schemes etc that you know of for us to add to the list.
Current Government Guidance on Technology Provision:
Updated 21/01/2021
Schools and colleges will receive an allocation of devices to be used to support disadvantaged children who are otherwise unable to access remote education. Further information available here.
This includes children:
with no digital devices in their household
whose only available device is a smartphone
with a single device in their household that’s being shared with more than one other family member
The number of devices available to order through the get help with technology service reflects the number of laptops and tablets the government estimate are needed by each school or college.
Currently:
All secondary schools and Primary schools have been invited to order through the get help with technology service.
Laptops and tablets will be available for further education providers to order in the 2021 spring term. The Department for Education will contact these providers with more information during the term.
Data allowances:
The Government have shared that schools, trusts and local authorities can request mobile data increases for children and young people who meet all 3 of these criteria:
do not have fixed broadband at home
cannot afford additional data for their devices
are experiencing disruption to their face-to-face education
Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit:
Three
SMARTY
Virgin Mobile
EE
Tesco Mobile
Sky Mobile
O2
Further information available here.
Updated 21/01/2021
In addition, it was announced that mobile networks are to make online education resource Oak National Academy free to access until schools reopen.
Mobile customers with O2, Three, Vodafone, EE, BT, Virgin, Sky and Plusnet will be able to browse the site even if they are out of data. Find out more here.
Access to Laptops/Devices
We have included in the below the links for donating/ applying for devices for schemes across the country.
Updated: 29/01/2021
Equal Education:
Equal Education are currently in receipt of funding from Innovate UK to provide technology to vulnerable learners.
👉 Find out more and see who is eligible here: http://bit.ly/39WJ9WW
Archway Learning Trust looking for donations:
The Department of Education have provided some laptops for which the Trust are grateful but they still have a shortfall of 500 laptops and are therefore looking for donations to make sure all of their children have access to online learning.
👉 Find out more and donate here: http://bit.ly/39TZEor
Dons Local Action Connect Kids:
Dons Local Action Connect Kids, collect, wipe and donate old devices to school pupils without access to remote learning. So far, they have delivered over 1000 devices across South London:
👉 Donate Devices: http://bit.ly/2XwG5wV
👉 Devices are given through schools: https://bit.ly/2XxnCA4
Donate Digital
Northern Powerhouse Partnership is launching a campaign to distribute unused devices to the children that need them most. “Laptops for Kids” enables people to donate their unused devices. Working with partners, they will data wipe your machine and use their channels to distribute to children that require it most.
👉 Donate devices: http://bit.ly/3q0UoWK
👉Devices are given through schools. More information: https://bit.ly/3sc1Ccn
Business 2 Schools:
Business 2 Schools links businesses and individuals with schools in their area that are accepting donations.
👉 Donate devices: http://bit.ly/2LIseRe
👉Register your school: http://bit.ly/3sf9Znh
Wiltshire Digital Drive:
Wiltshire Digital Drive is accepting donations to distribute to school children in Wiltshire
👉Donate a device: https://bit.ly/38viOl8
👉Register your school: https://bit.ly/3ouhqou
👉 BEP – Birmingham Education Partnership
The Birmingham Education Partnership are accepting devices and monetary donations to enable schools and Early Help Hubs across Birmingham to distribute devices to the children that need them most.
👉 To donate/ ask for devices: https://bit.ly/2K2bFiQ
Camden Digital Drive Fundraiser:
The Camden Digital Drive is accepting donations to distribute devices to school children in Camden.
👉Donate: http://bit.ly/2LFNVBu
Vodafone tech appeal
Vodafone are working with Barnardo’s to give young people supported by them devices and 6 months free unlimited data. They are asking the public for donations of old phones and tablets to The Great British Tech Appeal to enable this.
👉Donate: http://bit.ly/2XtFAnf
Community Calling
Community Calling are asking for smartphone donations. They then clean it, data-wipe it and redistribute it to someone in need. Each recipient receives 12-months' free data provided by O2 and access to free digital skills training. So far, they’ve re-homed almost 3000 smartphones.
👉Donate: http://bit.ly/3adrUTj
SARACENS FOUNDATION
In collaboration with several corporate partners, the Saracens Foundation will be delivering unused and professionally wiped laptops and tablets to children and young people across north London and Hertfordshire through schools, pupil referral units and community groups in order to support and improve the quality of their virtual learning experience.
👉 For more information: http://bit.ly/2MiIjhc
To set up a device distribution programme in your local area:
If there is not a distribution programme in your local area already but you want to set one up, the Reboot Project is an interactive platform which provides practical steps, enabling schools, charities, and community groups to set up their own device distribution programmes. 👉 More info: https://bit.ly/39fvfkk
Please continue to share any initiatives that are bridging the gap between devices and the schools and young people that need them the most. We will add them to this list and continue to share and amplify through our network.