AN URGENT appeal has gone out to Altonians and the local business community in a bid to find used laptops to be reconditioned and used for home schooling.

With some families having to home school with little more than a mobile phone, Alton Lions and Alton & District Community Resilience Fund are working with schools to identify and address the need for more robust devices.

Some secondary and junior schools have benefited from the allocation of new laptops by the Department for Education. But supply is limited and based on pupil numbers.

Eggar’s School headteacher Patrick Sullivan said the DfE scheme does not address the whole need.

He added most schools remained desperate for more laptops to support children working from home.

Unwanted laptops need to be in a good condition, with associated cabling included, and modern enough to run at least Windows 7 and updated to Windows 10.

The computers will be taken to Computer Solutions in Winchester where they will be cleared, reconditioned and fitted with the relevant software.

A first batch of laptops have gone to Winchester, and will be for the use of pupils at St Lawrence CE Primary School.

And the Lions and community fund has recognised a gap in the government scheme, with infant schools struggling to provide tablets for younger children to work with.

Although the Lions’ resilience fund will offer grants to support the purchase of tablets – with funds coming from public support during the pandemic – it will be hard pushed to meet the demand.

Donations to support this scheme would be “gratefully received” and can be made to the ADCRF via the Alton Lions Club (CIO) at www.altonlions.org.uk

If you have a laptop in good condition that could help a child with homeschooling, contact Lion Moira Baker on 07969 164544 or take it to your nearest school.

Working with Wey Valley Radio, Alton Lions are continuing to present their Friday night fun quiz which has so far raised £1,200 for ADCRF.