Vision Teaching Helps Tackle Digital Poverty

With the country now into its third national lockdown, last week Vision Teaching, one of London’s top rated education recruitment agencies, launched its newest initiative to deliver laptops, computers and tablets to schools across London to help redress digital inequity.

In 2020 it was reported that 1.9¹ million households had no access to the internet with tens of millions more reliant on pay-as-you-go services to access educational resources. This startling number is compounded by the fact that thousands of children across the country do not have access to the hardware they need to be able to complete schoolwork. It is estimated that up to 350,000 children are without any form of technology to help them facilitate online learning at home.

Education is often referred to as the great equalizer. It opens doors to options that might not have been available; jobs, careers, growth, self-realisation. Vision Teaching has spoken with teachers who have expressed concern that some families have to share one smart phone between them. A lack of access to tech exacerbates this digital divide and disadvantages young people within education. This frightening reality is why Vision Teaching has launched its devices for schools initiative.

As one principal from a London primary school states “We are a 1.5 entry school…with over 50% of our families who are entitled to FSM. We have received 49 devices from the DFE but still have many more families who are struggling with home learning…”. Another head teacher from a different school stated “This is an amazing project that you are trying to offer. We have been promised 8 devices from DFE, but we cannot even order them yet…”

Is it clear that schools need our support during these challenging times, so how can you help?

1. If you have any old but still working tech, whether it’s a laptop or a tablet why not donate it today. It couldn’t be easier, simply email community@visionteaching.co.uk with details and we’ll get in touch.
2. Nothing to donate but still want to support? We have set up a JustGiving page to raise funds that will enable us to refurbish each device. To repurpose each device it costs approximately £15 so the more that we raise the more units we can refurbish.
3. Share this initiative on your own social channels – Twitter | LinkedIn

Therefore, if you, your friends, family or business have tech that they want to donate, then don’t hesitate and get involved today.

¹ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52399589