When the football club and the community response team heard that pupils at both schools needed more laptops to help with their education during this lockdown, they teamed up to fund the purchase of 10 laptops.
Ashburton Dads Football Club’s Nick Laity said: ‘ADFC has been established over 15 years. We meet on a Thursday evening for a kick-about and a bit of a social.
‘Ellir Sheryn one of our dads, had the idea to have a fundraiser to raise money to be used on projects in these unprecedented times.
‘Our dads are delighted that we have been able to partner with the Covid 19 Response Team and help our local community.’
Martyn Brooks Chair of Ashburton Covid19 Response Group said: ‘We’re delighted to partner Ashburton Dads Football Club in this project to assist local pupils working from home during this lockdown to continue their education, by the purchase of these laptops.
‘The Covid 19 Group would like to thank so many individuals who conducted the research and did so much to make this all possible, and for the donations that enabled the purchase of these machines.’
Justine Fitton C19, who coordinated the laptop project, said: ‘When I heard that there were Ashburton families who did not have the laptops or software to continue their vital education during this lockdown,
‘I believed we could help. I am delighted to have been able to assist, but if there are still any families in need I’d like to hear from them.
Ashburton Primary School head Tammy Docking said: ‘We would like to say a huge thank you to Ashburton Emergency Response Group and Ashburton Dad’s FC for supporting us in getting laptops to families in our school.
‘As a school, we are determined to keep all our children learning through this lockdown as every day of school missed can impact children’s long-term progress and future.
‘However, to do this we rely on being able to conduct live teaching sessions, which we can only do if the children have access to the required technology.
‘The laptops provided us with have allowed many children, who would otherwise have been placed at a disadvantage, to continue learning. In addition, these laptops mean that the children are able to connect with their friends and teachers, which is vital for their mental health and wellbeing at this difficult time.
‘Thank you so much for supporting our school community in such a significant way.’