£20,000 funding for Computer Hardware to aid education for Disadvantaged Young People in Somerset

Following the successful implementation of the ‘Unlocking Potential’ (UP) Somerset project in both Bridgwater and Weston-Super-Mare, SCT are making a one-off grant of £3300 to each of the current six schools involved in the UP Somerset project. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have access to computer equipment and thus have been unable or restricted in doing academic work set by schools during this period.

This money has been gifted by SCT to schools to be spent on tablets or laptops for young people in conjunction with our delivery partner SBY Somerset. For example, an operational tablet costing £270 each could benefit up to 12 young people per school needing access to school work via the internet.  

Commenting on the initiative on behalf of all SCT Trustees, Mrs Mary-Clare Rodwell, High Sheriff of Somerset stated “We are delighted to be able to help some of the young people most adversely effected by the closure of schools. They need to be able to study out of the classroom. Even when schools re-open the new reality is that much of a pupil’s education will be carried out at home”.

She added, “We hope to encourage other business organisations and individuals to follow our initiative. It would be wonderful if this could be brought to other schools across the whole of Somerset”