The first North East families with limited access to the internet have been given dongles as part of a scheme to prevent vulnerable children falling behind in their education.
ChronicleLive has helped to launch the Cash for Connectivity appeal, which is aiming to raise £1.2m to help 100,000 disadvantaged households to get online.
In the North East we are aiming to raise £35,000 to purchase WiFi dongles for those most in need, with the total closing in on £5,000 in less than a week.
The first dongles have now been distributed to Richardson Dees Primary School, in Wallsend, and Marden High School, in North Shields, to ensure those most at risk of falling behind in homeschooling can stay in the virtual class.
Janine White, business manager at Richardson Dees Primary School, said: "This lockdown is the first time the curriculum has continued so it is critical that all children have access to a device and internet.
"We did notice a big difference when the children returned after the first lockdown from those who had been engaging in their school work and those who had not.
"We have had reports from families that their internet does get cut off.
"Wallsend is an area which has refugees, asylum seekers and families who have lived here for generations. Some of them have absolutely nothing or have little English. The technology really helps the families to engage with their children's education at home.
"The campaign is brilliant for supporting schools. The dongles have been hard to get hold of so it's fantastic for the families who need them."
The first donations were made possible by Northumbrian Water which has donated 100 dongles to help those struggling to learn at home during the national lockdown.
Nigel Watson, group information services director at Northumbrian Water, said: "It’s absolutely incredible that less than a week after the Cash for Connectivity campaign was launched, we have already been able to get a number of students connected to their education.
"These school are the first in a long line that we are trying to help through this innovative campaign, and we are extremely proud that Northumbrian Water have had the opportunity to be involved.
"Over £30,000 has been raised across the north already, and so long as that momentum keeps going, we can continue to make a difference to students at schools like Richardson Dees and Marden High School."
An estimated 55,000 families across the North East do not have a laptop, tablet or computer, with children being denied their basic right to an education.
Cash for Connectivity is part of the Laptops for Kids scheme, launched in the North East earlier this month with more than 1,500 devices already being pledged to those most in need.
Supported by ChronicleLive, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Sunderland IT firms Rebuyuer and Code, the initiative aims to end the digital divide among our children.
Sarah Mulholland, head of policy at the Northen Powerhouse Partnership, said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Northumbrian Water for helping get our Cash for Connectivity campaign off to a fantastic start in the North East.
"Even before the pandemic, the North East had the highest proportion of long-term disadvantaged children in the country at 10.1% - which is double the national average.
"That means children here face even bigger barriers to catch up compared with the rest of the country.
"Coupled with the digital divide and significant disruption to school attendance pre-Christmas, there is a real risk that pupils in our region will struggle to make up the learning loss from the past year.
"Even a small donation could make the world of difference to a family who may have several children sat at home unable to learn."
Sunderland AFC, head teachers, MPs Chi Onwurah, Julie Elliott and Grahame Morris, the National Education Union and local businesses are among those to back the campaign.
To donate to Cash for Connectivity, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/chronicle-cash-4-connectivity
