Sopro launches Level Up Laptops appeal to get more laptops to children in Sussex struggling to access education online
19 January; Launching today Level Up Laptops is a charity initiative created by Brighton based social prospecting company Sopro. It’s asking Sussex based businesses to donate laptops and other computer equipment that can be given to local schoolchildren struggling to access online learning resources.
Level Up Laptops will also take monetary donations through its Sussex based registered charity partner the Tarner Community Project. All funds raised will be used to cover refurbishment costs or to purchase new machines for local children.
Ryan Welmans, Sopro’s CEO and the mastermind behind this initiative explains why the project started:
“When I heard on the radio how a lack of devices is making it impossible for some of our most vulnerable families to home school, I knew we could help. So many businesses have old laptops lying around and we can reach the with our Sopro prospecting technology quickly to raise awareness and gain their support. We’re also donating staff time to handle the collection, refurbishment and fundraising plus our fantastic charity partner the Tarner Community Project already has links into local schools and the council.
To get the campaign of to a flying start, Sopro are funding ten laptops for ten local kids immediately.”
Emma Jacquest, CEO at the Tarner Community Project explains how these devices will help Sussex school children;
“Covid has accelerated the amount of education conducted online and it’s critical that vulnerable children don’t fall behind because of a lack of access to learning resources. We’re excited to be involved in this project to tackle the digital divide across Sussex and have every confidence in the generosity of local businesses.”
Level Up Laptops will accept any laptop that runs Windows 7 or later plus tablets, which many younger children need for their studies, refurbishing them and then connecting with local schools who will distribute the devices to children struggling to maintain their education remotely.
Matthew Ansell from Hove based marketing agency Matrix Marketing added;
“We’ve made a cash donation to help cover refurbishment costs as it’s critical to get usable devices out to children who are missing out on education. I wouldn’t be able to work if my children couldn’t get online and access sites like BBC bitesize because I’d need to teach or supervise them constantly. Without access to the internet, they would also miss out on video calls with their teachers and friends which are so important to their mental wellbeing during this pandemic.”
Many households are struggling even if they have one device already as parents are working from home and often there is more than one child who needs to join online lessons or use a laptop to access educational resources online.
It is estimated that 2.6 million schoolchildren live below the poverty line in England alone, and Ofcom estimates that about 9% of children in the UK – up to 1.7 million – do not have access to a laptop, desktop or tablet at home.
More than 880,000 children also live in a household with only a mobile internet connection. Online Nation 2020 – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/194878/technology-tracker-2020-uk-data-tables.pdf
Full details of the Level Up Project can be found on its website at: https://leveluplaptops.co.uk/ or join our community at https://www.facebook.com/Level-Up-Laptops-103347615069389
Donations can be made via Just Giving here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leveluplaptops
About Sopro
Privately owned and funded, Sopro is one of the fastest-growing B2B marketing technology businesses in the world. In four years and with zero capital investment, Sopro has built a highly skilled team passionate about technology, customer service and results resulting in an annual turnover that now exceeds £3m.
Sopro’s social prospecting format connects businesses with their target customers on a 1-to-1 basis with personalised, conversational email introductions, designed to flow naturally into the sales pipeline.
www.linkedin.com/company/sopro-social-prospecting
Twitter: @Sopro Facebook: @Sopro.Prospecting
Contact: Ana 07770507723 for additional information, to speak to Ryan or for additional images
About the Tarner Community Project
Tarner Community Project is a charity based in Tarner Park, Brighton, dedicated to supporting the local community and providing all year round activities for children and young people. With OFSTED good accreditation, we offer a caring, inclusive, service. Healthy living and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do with an emphasis on physical and outdoor activities.
The Tarner team will be using their local connections with schools across the Sussex region to make sure that all devices secured by the Level Up Laptap appeal reach children who are struggling to access vital online learning resources.
