Bramley: Appeal renewed for tech to help children in need

Words: Jill Stocks

Do you have any tech that could help a child’s learning in West Leeds?

Over the past 12 months we have become increasingly dependent on our household technology products for leisure, amusement, and in many cases, working from home, leading many of us to upgrade.

So perhaps you might have redundant tech hidden in a cupboard to help a child without in Leeds?

Leeds City Council are working alongside a partner agency to refurbish laptops, desktop computers, tablets and Apple products which will then be redistributed to children according to their need in Leeds. All products received will be wiped completely and new operating systems installed before their distribution.

There are some exact specifications that any donated products should meet for them to be compatible with the project and they should be no more than six years old. There are more details of how your item could fit the criteria required for their purpose below.

Councillor Jools Heselwood is leading the efforts in Bramley:

“Our collection point in Bramley is Bramley Community Centre or if you cannot drop off please contact me to arrange collection.”

Councillor Caroline Gruen said: 

“As a governor at two Bramley schools and the Inner West Children’s Champion, I know at first hand how hard the schools have been working to provide the best possible virtual learning programme.

“I have visited some of the impressive live lessons on Zoom and Teams and it is quite amazing that students and children can now access the full curriculum from home. But that can’t work unless each child and young person has access to a device, so they can all be in their lessons at the same time.

“So we are appealing for donated, unused laptops and tablets to help our children catch up with their education during this unprecedented year, when they have missed out on so many important things in their lives. Please donate if you can.”

If you have anything you think will be suitable for donation or you have any questions about the project, please e-mail Councillor Heselwood on julie.heselwood@leeds.gov.uk.