Guardian joins Cash for Connectivity plea to get kids connected

The emergency fundraiser is targeting £1.2 million to help provide free internet to 100,000 disadvantaged households.

Young children are being denied their basic right to education because they cannot access online learning at home during lockdown.

The appeal is part of the Laptops for Kids campaign, launched by technology entrepreneur David Richards and supported by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and a growing number of newspapers, businesses and councils.

Cash for Connectivity will fund the purchase of dongles – inexpensive hardware to connect laptops and up to five other devices per household to the internet.

David Richards, founder and chief executive of data software company WANdisco plc, said: “This is a quick and inexpensive fix to an urgent social problem and we encourage readers to donate.

“Connectivity is as important as water and should be freely available to those in need. Together we can help end the data drought in the north of England.”

David Richards

Northern pupils have suffered a disproportionate impact to their learning according to new analysis showing lower attendance rates before Christmas, plus higher levels of long-term disadvantage and a greater impact from the digital divide, compared to those in the south.

Tatton MP Esther McVey recently raised the issue of supporting youngsters to learn at home in Parliament and she is now backing the Cash for Connectivity appeal.

She said: “Many children are at home trying to learn without proper access to devices and it is wonderful that lots of businesses and individuals have come forward to donate iPad and laptops.

“But access to data is also a problem for lots of our most vulnerable children.

“For some the problem is location and poor connections, and that needs to be tackled, but for many it is also the exorbitant cost of pay as you go data as they cannot afford to have WIFI in their homes.

Esther McVey MP

“It has been reported that more than 790,000 children can only access the internet using mobile phone data with pay as you go charges as high as £37 a day. For someone needing to take part in a full timetable of online lessons, this is appalling and unacceptable.

“I believe in social mobility and education enables that. I want pupils to be back in school but while that isn’t happening all our children need reliable access to the internet and the right equipment to learn.

“It is the most disadvantaged that will fall behind in learning as a result of this pandemic and we all have a duty to the next generation to make sure we do everything we can to make sure that does not happen. We cannot have children as the forgotten victims of this pandemic.

“I will do everything I can to keep pushing for better internet access in Parliament and keep raising this matter with Government ministers as I want every home to have access to good quality affordable WIFI, which should be a basic such as electricity and water but in the short term this campaign will help provide this crucial missing link for school children across the area."

Mike Amesbury, Weaver Vale MP, added: “This is a fantastic campaign and it's heartening once again to see our community newspapers championing change in our local communities. 

"During the last election Labour included free broadband in its manifesto pledges because it was becoming clear the Internet is no longer something that's simply nice to have for entertainment value, it is an essential utility, and those that can't access it are at a serious disadvantage in this modern world. 

"We have seen during the pandemic just how vital internet connectivity is, with many people having to work from home and children having to learn online as schools are closed.

Mike Amesbury MP

“Sadly, those that are unable to access the internet are at serious risk of falling behind educationally and this is something that needs to be addressed urgently.”

Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP for Congleton, added: “It is very important that all school pupils can access online learning during this most difficult of times and I applaud all those involved in this scheme.

"The Government is working with mobile operators to provide free data to children in disadvantaged households and deliver 4G wireless routers for pupils without a connection at home.

"I know that teachers, parents, and young people, are working hard to keep up with learning whilst schools are closed and it is only right that we all do what we can to help them with this.”

The appeal is part of the Laptops for Kids campaign, which launched in Sheffield last September and is scaling up across the north with its proven method of sourcing, securely erasing and distributing devices to schools, according to need. 

To donate to the appeal, visit ltfk.co.uk/connectivity