Children in Hammersmith & Fulham are benefiting from access to online learning thanks to laptops donated through UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham’s Tech4Kids Appeal. Children are thriving when they are not fighting for internet time on a parent’s smartphone or an outdated device.
We didn’t realise how many kids didn’t have access to the internet until the pandemic.Covid-19 has highlighted the digital divide, particularly for disadvantaged children.
“Not having tech limits access to so much” said Rosie Peters, Deputy Head Teacher, Wendell Park Primary School. “We didn’t realise how many kids didn’t have access to the internet until the pandemic.” She noted there had always been some distance between the more affluent and those struggling, and “we expected the pandemic to widen that gap, but having the technology and acting quickly, we were able to limit that”.
At the start of the pandemic, the council conducted a borough wide survey to determine who could get online. “We were shocked by how many children didn’t have a laptop and were trying to do homework on a phone" said Ms Peters, who added that having their own device really boosted children’s confidence and skills.
Speaking to five children who received laptops, they all agreed that having a laptop made homework easier, and gave them access to other resources. Four of them chose maths as their favourite subject and are big fans of the app Times Tables Rock Stars, a game which builds skills in multiplication. Laptops also mean homework could be submitted directly, rather than copied out and handed in manually.
“School is better with a laptop,” said Hidayah, a year 3 student. “For homework, it’s really amazing.’ Dior, year 4, said of his device: “It’s pretty cool for maths games.”
“I felt very happy I had a laptop,” said Aissatou, year 5, “because I had to use my mum’s phone screen which was tiny and complicated.” She added: “It’s easier to do homework on a laptop.”
Erza, year 5, said typing with a keyboard is faster and less tiring, and now she doesn’t have to share on old, heavy device. “There was one laptop at home,” she said, “and we all used it.”
When I got a laptop, I was really relieved because then I had my own space and I could do my own work
“When I got a laptop, I was really relieved because then I had my own space and I could do my own work,” said Fifi, year 4. Before that, there was one device in her family, and “me and two sisters used to fight over it”.
The children said they felt sad for kids trying to learn without tech. With the Tech4Kids appeal, we aim to get 1,500 laptops, but many more children need support.
Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham who is collecting the funds, urges more businesses and residents to get involved and give so we can make sure all 1,500 get the devices they need sooner.
““Locally-based companies Agylisis and Immediate Media were the first to fund this campaign with cash gifts, and a number of local residents have come forward to donate too. Thanks to them, we’ve reached some children, but more are waiting. It’s really a case of better neighbours making better neighbourhoods,” said Savraj Kaur, Executive Director at UNITED, and co-founder of Ready Tech Go.”