Reconome has been taking action to help with the Digital Exclusion dilemma
We were surprised when we read a report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) back in 2020.
It shares some valuable insights into what had become a dire situation. But when reading it, we realised we could positively influence this situation by working with the right partners.
So we took action!
The key facts from the report:
- 50% of the parents surveyed expressed concern that digital exclusion would be detrimental to their children’s education
- 20% said they were unable to provide uninterrupted access to online learning at home for their children.
- 21% of parents were working from home and needed to share their IT devices with their children while also achieving work commitments
These statistics are worrying, of course. However, it’s too simple to sit back and lay blame on the Government and our education system. Instead, those able to should be doing what they can to help.
On top of the 1 million devices already delivered to vulnerable students, the DfE has pledged to issue another 300,000 laptops over the next few weeks. They are also working with UK mobile network operators to provide free data to underprivileged families who usually rely on mobile connectivity rather than broadband access.
But it’s not enough.
Families that can’t afford one device for every child are not necessarily only those that fall into the ‘free school meals’ category. So more needs to be done to help, and Reconome finds itself in a fortunate situation that we can. So, we did!
To support schools, the Reconome team has delivered hundreds of refurbished laptops to schools. Their focus has been to reduce the delivery times on these devices (cutting the usual expected wait time of up to 3 months considerably) and to make them as affordable as possible.
And in 2020, we partnered with O2 and Hubbub on the Community Calling campaign, to give digitally excluded individuals access to refurbished smartphones and data in an effort to bridge the connectivity gap. The target is to connect 10,000 individuals by June 2021..
To date, we have processed and delivered 3,500 smartphones!
Ready to make a small step that could make a BIG difference? DONATE PHONES NOW.
Are you a school and do you need to procure laptops or refurbish old IT equipment?
Or are you a business that can donate your old IT equipment to help connect more vulnerable students?
In both cases, we would love to hear from you. Contact us now.
The full ONS report is available here