TODAY, The Northern Echo joins forces with rival publishers across the North to launch the Cash for Connectivity appeal.

The emergency fundraising is targeting £1.2m to help provide free internet to 100,000 disadvantaged households.

Young children are being denied their basic right to education because they cannot access online learning at home during lockdown.

The appeal is part of the Laptops for Kids campaign, launched by technology entrepreneur David Richards and supported by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and a growing number of newspapers, businesses and local authorities.

Cash for Connectivity will fund the purchase of dongles - inexpensive hardware to connect laptops and up to five other devices per household to the internet.

Karl Holbrook, editor at The Northern Echo, said: “Our journalists have been inundated by messages from those struggling with homeschooling, and many of us feel that pressure too with children at home at the moment.

“Not having a consistent and reliable connection means the learning chances of those who need it most in communities across the North are being hit by buffering or sometimes having no connection at all.

“I am proud that regional titles across the North are uniting to urge our wonderful readers both in print and online to help us to make a real difference, and quickly, to those who need it through our #cash4connect campaign."

Northern MP Julie Elliott is leading calls for mobile network operators to supply free sim cards for use with the dongles.

The Sunderland central MP said: “Too many children are currently trying to access their education from home, without suitable devices or data, and this campaign has been launched to try and solve this.

“It is an inexpensive solution that can reach the people that need it, and that can help so many young people who are disconnected and at risk of falling behind.

“We have already seen lots of generous people who have given so much, including donating laptops and devices all across the North. Providing those that need it with the connection to the internet is just as important too, and I do hope that by working together, we can help as many people as we can.”

Also supporting the campaign, is Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison.

Ms Davison said: “Right since the pandemic began, I’ve continuously made the case to Government that we must ensure the most disadvantaged children have access to what they need to learn from home. I’ve also been speaking regularly to local teachers and headteachers to get their feedback about home learning and the rollout of devices.

“I am pleased the Government has given out more than 800,000 laptops, with hundreds of thousands more to come, and that an agreement has been forged with major mobile data providers to get free data for kids. I warmly welcome any support from the private sector and the public, and think the Cash for Connectivity appeal is a great scheme. If you can help in any way, please do.”

MP for Durham city Mary Foy has also welcomed the initiative but criticised the Government saying their preparations have been inadequate.

She said: "I truly welcome this initiative to help ensure that the region’s most disadvantaged children have access to the resources that are required for them to continue their education remotely, and it is yet another example of the generosity and togetherness of the British public during this pandemic. However, it really shouldn't be necessary as this is clearly the responsibility of the Government. We have known for months that remote learning was a possibility, yet Government preparations have been completely inadequate.”

Campaign partners include Blancco plc, the global leader in certified data erasure, the non-political Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Twinkl, the online educational publisher, and WANdisco plc, the data software company jointly headquartered in Sheffield and Silicon Valley.

David Richards, founder and chief executive of data software company WANdisco plc, said: “This is a quick and inexpensive fix to an urgent social problem and we encourage readers to donate.

“Connectivity is as important as water and should be freely available to those in need. Together we can help end the data drought in the North of England.”

  • To donate to the fundraiser visit gofundme.com/f/cash-for-connectivity-laptops-for-kids