Deloitte in Wales has donated 250 laptops to three Cardiff schools since the firm first announced plans to repurpose its used laptops in 2021.
Between January 2021 and September 2022, Deloitte has donated 6,865 laptops to schools, charities and community groups across the UK. This includes 3,653 laptops to schools, 2,018 to charities, and 1,194 to refugee organisations and individual refugees.
Of those laptops that have been donated to pupils from 58 UK schools, including 100 each to Fitzalan High School in Leckwith and Eastern High School in Rumney, as well as 50 to Willows High School in Tremorfa.
The idea to recondition and gift the laptops was first suggested by a Deloitte staff member writing to the CEO in response to the growing digital divide.
Against the additional backdrop of a cost of living crisis and the continued focus on sustainability, it has since become a long-term commitment of the firm.
Deloitte has reaffirmed its commitment with CEO, Richard Houston pledging a further 5,000 laptops every year.
Gareth Pritchard, partner and responsible business lead for Deloitte in Wales, said: “There are many aspects of society where we need to level up and technology is one of them. The pandemic brought into the spotlight the unequal access to digital technology and skills. During the pandemic we supported thousands of the most vulnerable children to stay connected to education and I feel very proud that some of this support was in Wales helping our local communities.
“By donating used laptops to our partner schools in Cardiff we’re helping to bridge the digital skills gap and support young people to overcome barriers to education and employment. The opportunity that technology can bring to transform business and our community is extraordinary. But this progress can only happen if we put young people at the heart of this progress and equip them for the future of work.”
Jo Kemp, assistant headteacher at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff, said: “Our pupils benefitted throughout the year from the laptops donated by Deloitte. During the lockdown period, we allocated all devices to those who didn’t have a computer at home.
“It opened access to education again and closed the gap for some students who couldn’t make progress without a device. The laptops continue to be used now that we are back in school, working with pupils who need some additional support.”
Susan Cowan, deputy head at Eastern High School, said: “We serve a community where many of our families experience some of the highest levels of deprivation in Wales and we have a high percentage of students who do not have a device at home so the donated laptops were really useful for these students during lockdown.
“Now we are back in school we have established an IT Library so that our students can borrow a Chromebook to access work at home and support Year 11 students with their revision for exams. The donation of IT equipment from Deloitte also supported our community support group CAST, who used the devices to set up a local food pantry which benefits our immediate community.”
Andrew Roberts, leader of Genius Hour & Aspiration at Willows High School, said: “The donation of laptops from Deloitte has had a tremendous impact on the quality of the teaching in my class. The laptops allow the pupils to become more independent learners. They now have the opportunity to independently research a variety of topics and to enhance the depth and scope of their work with practical, real-life examples.”
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