First laptops for disadvantaged children in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire after £560k raised

Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council launched the ‘Laptops for Children’ campaign earlier this month in partnership with the Youth Panel, Cambridge Digital Direct, Cambridge 2030 and the Cambridge Culture Foundation, aimed at purchasing laptops and 4G routers for vulnerable young people.

Around 8,000 children in the region do not have use of a computer or broadband, meaning they cannot access lessons and online resources, putting them at risk of falling behind with their studies.

RELATED: Retailer’s £100,000 gift to keep Peterborough children learning in lockdown

Peterborough pupils with autism and other special needs receive laptops thanks to donation

Hundreds more laptops and tablets given for disadvantaged children in Peterborough

Many Peterborough councillors plan to use community money to help fund laptops for schools campaign

Just over two weeks after launching the campaign, £567,845 has already been raised thanks to support from businesses and individuals, as well as funding from both authorities. A first batch of more than 1,000 laptops and 460 routers have been purchased and will be distributed to schools from this week.

A total of 352 laptops have also been donated to drop-in centres and libraries across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. These will be checked and updated before being distributed to schools.

The campaign will continue to secure sufficient funding so that every young person in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has the necessary equipment to continue learning. Both councils are writing to businesses and the Chambers of Commerce this week to drum up further support.

Cllr Lynne Ayres, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, education, skills and the university, said: “Cabinet has discussed the pressing need for laptops for disadvantaged children in our local schools - particularly primary schools. The education of every child is our priority and I am so grateful and proud of the support this worthy campaign has generated.”

Cllr Simon Bywater, chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “The initial response to this campaign has been nothing short of phenomenal and I would like to thank everyone that has pledged support.

“There is much more work to do, but we’re fully focussed on getting as many laptops and routers to children as possible.”

For more information on the campaign and to make a donation visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/cambridgeshire-laptops-for-children.