Slater Heelis Solicitors, which has offices in Manchester, Sale, and Timperley, is helping to combat digital poverty in Greater Manchester by donating eighty-five computers to nine schools which are part of local Multi-Academy Trust Consilium Academies.
The computers, provided entirely free of charge by Slater Heelis, will allow Consilium Academies to equip the equivalent of three full IT suites across its schools in Salford, Gateshead, Darlington, Sunderland, and Doncaster, which is a welcome gift at a time when costs are increasing.
David Clayton, Chief Executive at Consilium Academies, said:
“We can’t thank Slater Heelis enough for this kind donation, which will go a long way in supporting our children across all nine of our schools. Every child should have the same opportunities when it comes to technology. This donation will enable us to further improve how we enable all our students to access the essential IT skills they need to develop in the current digital age.
“This partnership with Slater Heelis is also very much in line with our focus on sustainability. It is wonderful to see these computers going to fantastic use, rather than going to landfill.”
The donation also comes at a time when the Digital Poverty Alliance estimates that more than a quarter of young people (26%) lack suitable access to either a laptop or computer.
Paul Doyle, Head of IT at Slater Heelis, said:
“Access to computers and the internet is of vital importance for young people in school and at home today. A vast majority of careers require digital skills, and more and more of everyday life is conducted online too so to learn those skills and being IT literate has never been more important.
“At the same time, there are many children growing up without the access to such technology and that could leave them at a major disadvantage on their learning and ability to stay on track right from the start; so to donate these fully functioning computer towers is very rewarding for us as a family focused firm of solicitors. We are familiar with the work of Consilium Academies and know they will put them to good use.”
Paul added: “Finding a new home for our PCs not only helps young people learn digital skills, but it’s about the greenest way to handle old technology so we’re also playing our part in creating a more sustainable future for them, too.”
