With many children and families continuing to struggle with home schooling during this latest lockdown because they don’t have access to IT equipment, members of Kenwyn Parish Council have donated £2,000 to Threemilestone Primary School, Shortlanesend Primary School and Richard Lander School to help provide laptops for their pupils.

“We know that there is still a shortage of IT equipment in many schools and hope that this donation will enable more children to take part in distance learning “ said Chairman Mark Harry.

“The parish council has a Community Benefit Fund to support projects which help the local community and members unanimously agreed that this would be a wonderful use of the fund during these difficult times”.

The Kenwyn Community Fund is funded by RES and Lightsource and provides grants for community projects. Priority is given to educational, environmental and community projects or initiatives within the Kenwyn Parish Council area.

Further information about the fund, including details of the criteria and how to apply, are available from the Kenwyn Parish Council website kenwynparishcouncil.gov.uk

The Covid pandemic has forced the closure of schools, with lessons being moved online and being carried out on Zoom. However there are concerns that children who don't have access to laptops are missing out on important learning.

Child Poverty Action Group found in the first UK lockdown in March 2020 up to 40% of families did not only not have access to a laptop or the internet, but also to other things like printers, stationery and craft materials.

Read next: Government says it has delivered 2,000 laptops to schoolchildren in Cornwall

Last week the government announced a total of 31,147 devices have been delivered across the South West, including 2,055 in Cornwall. The figures don’t include devices delivered directly to multi-academy trusts.

The news comes after the Department for Education last month announced a further 300,000 laptops and tablets to help more disadvantaged children and young people learn at home.