Do you have an old laptop (or tablet, at a pinch) that you no longer use or need? Even if it is old and very, very slow, as long as it turns on, we want it! 

Local schools are in desperate need of laptops to give to pupils who are unable to get online to do their schoolwork. It is vital that all children have a device for remote learning and as the current lockdown progresses, there is a concern that children from less well-off families will be left behind. There are far too many stories of families with multiple children trying to access their lessons through a parent’s mobile phone. Without access to a device, children are also isolated from their friendship groups – a side effect that may have repercussions for ongoing mental health. There is a government initiative in the pipeline that will deliver laptops to schools at the end of May, and though this is a great step in the right direction, pupils need them now. 

Wandsworth Council and Battersea Power Station have launched the Power to Connect campaign to support local children and families. Working with local community partners (now including Emanuel School), the aim is to improve access to computers or tablets. As part of the initiative, this laptop and tablet collection scheme is helping local families without a computer at home and patients at St George’s NHS Hospital in Tooting, who may be struggling to stay in touch with loved ones during this difficult time.

Volunteers with IT experience, working from a computer renovation hub, are wiping donated laptops clean and repurposing them as Chromebooks. The refurbished laptops are then distributed to our local schools including many of our partners on an as-needed basis. 

So, how can you donate? If you have a laptop that can be repurposed (ideally with a power cable, but it’s also fine without) you can either: 

  • Drop it off in a sealed bag at Emanuel’s security gate between 3.30 and 4.00 pm daily (Please note that the gate is only staffed at these times)
  • Contact lisa.irwin@emanuel.org.uk and we will arrange to collect the laptop from you, if you are within a reasonable distance from the school. 

We will ensure that the laptops are delivered to the renovation hub and then on to the children that need them as soon as possible.

If you would like to be involved in this scheme to help pick up and deliver laptops, we would love to hear from you too.

A huge thank you to Nick House for linking us to this essential initiative. Thanks again, to you all, for your amazing support.

The development team