NEWPORT and Carisbrooke Community Council (NCCC) has urged people who can to donate laptops for Newport pupils in urgent need of equipment to learn from home.

Donations of laptops are welcomed from individuals, organisations and businesses.

Scroll down for information on how to donate...

Equipment will be collected and then cleansed of data by a licensed contractor and reconditioned - if necessary - to make sure they are in working order, before being distributed to the schools.

While students in receipt of Free School Meals or Pupil Premium have received equipment via the Department of Education and other schemes, there is a number of pupils in households without enough computers to fulfil the need.

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans brought the proposal to NCCC and members have agreed to fund and set up the scheme working alongside the Newport Community Resilience Co-ordinator and Computer Express IW for immediate implementation.

She said "By utilising unused laptops we are mindful of not being wasteful and this aligns with us being part of the Green Towns Network.

"Any unviable equipment will be recycled by an accredited contractor."

Anyone who is able to donate any suitable equipment has been asked to email laura.jones@newportwight.org.uk to arrange collection.

Cllr Matthew Price added: "We are home teaching our two daughters who are in different year groups and we are at times both working from home.

"Without purchasing another laptop ourselves it would have been virtually impossible to keep up with the demands of learning and work.

"This will ensure those not eligible for a laptop through the usual routes will be able to home school their children with the right technology”