Help bridge the digital divide for disadvantaged children and isolated adults in Portsmouth

While the government has pledged to provide 1.3m laptops for pupils, many children across the city are still unable to access online learning during lockdown due to not owning a digital device or being unable to access the internet.

The initiative, run by Shaping Portsmouth in with the city council and Hive Portsmouth, is looking to provide 200 laptops, desktops and tablets to those in need.

Shaping Portsmouth’s chief executive Stef Nienaltowski said: ‘We are looking to provide 100 devices to school children and 100 to adults who have been left isolated by the pandemic.

‘As well as children being unable to access learning the digital divide has also left behind a number of adults who are feeling isolated from the rest of society.

‘After receiving a device people will also be provided with basic training to use facilities such as Face Time to be able to communicate with others.’

Schools can request devices and the charity Hive Portsmouth will identify isolated adults in need of support.

Donated devices must meet certain specifications set out on the Shaping Portsmouth website. This includes laptops manufactured after 2010 and they must have WiFi.

Mr Nienaltowski added: ‘Once we know where devices are needed they will go to the Landport Community Centre where volunteers from the charity Enable Ability will recondition the computers and upload them with the necessary software.

‘We’ve had an excellent response from our business partners with 15 devices already donated.’

The Bridging Portsmouth’s Digital Divide scheme has also set up a Crowdfunder page which is targeting raising £5,000 to ensure people can get online.

Mr Nienaltowski said: ‘We have established a deal with KSM Telecom to provide sim cards for £7 per month which can provide 6GB of data.

‘We plan on using some of this money to provide these sim cards. There’s no point in having a laptop if you can’t get online to be able to use it.’

The community interest group hope the scheme will provide an ongoing supply of devices beyond the current lockdown.

It’s a sentiment shared by the city council’s cabinet member for education Suzy Horton.

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She said: ‘I think it’s absolutely crucial that families have access to the internet and a digital device for online learning. With schools now running live remote lessons one device in a family is no longer enough.

‘I think the pandemic has seen a real step change in our relationship with digital education.

‘It’s vital that we close this digital divide to allow all children to prosper in the long-term.’

With devices having already started to be delivered, the scheme is starting to have a beneficial impact in the community.

One Year 11 pupil, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It was great having a laptop to work on – I only had a phone before and the screen was broken.

'It has given me more confidence with GCSE work. I can access the learning from school at home and I know it will really help with revision.’

Anyone who has a digital device they would like to donate should email [email protected] to arrange for collection.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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