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Greenham Trust’s Laptops for Lockdown Learning Appeal, has so far (8th Feb 2021) raised £271,550 out of the target £500,000 and distributed grants to 30 primary and secondary schools across the local area to buy 1,053 laptops and devices worth over £206,000. These desperately needed devices will help provide children from underprivileged families with the tools they need to learn from home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Some of the funds raised are also being used to support a new scheme to refurbish 200 donated laptops and tablet devices for children in partnership with the Newbury Community Resource Centre (NCRC).

NCRC is working with Green Machine, a Ramsbury based IT company, to refurbish the laptops ready for issue to schools and directly to local families in need. Whilst Green Machine is donating its staff time and project management costs free of charge, the Greenham Trust grant of £10,000 will fund additional costs such as replacing screens, installing anti-virus software and supplying accessories for the 200 refurbished laptops.

“Throughout the pandemic we have seen an increasing need for support from vulnerable local families. The closure of schools and move to remote learning has placed an additional burden on all families, especially low-income families who are not eligible to send their children to school who simply can’t afford to provide the devices needed to participate in online lessons and complete school work. Alongside Greenham Trust’s ‘Laptops for Lockdown Learning’ fund which is helping schools plug the gap, we are delighted to also be getting support from Green Machine and the generous general public to supply this additional equipment to those most in need.” Kelvin Hughes, Chief Executive, NCRC.