Our Sponsored 10k Helps Gives Back To Inverclyde
Thank you! Our community raises a staggering sum for the 'Bridge The Digital Divide' campaign.
At St Columba’s, we are extremely fortunate to be able to maintain teaching and learning for our pupils during this uncertain and challenging time. Every child has the right to learn and we are incredibly lucky to have the technology and resources to ensure learning can continue, even at home. However, not everyone has access to educational technology and resources.
On Tuesday 9th June, our whole community gave back as part of our first ever '10k for St Columba’s Day'! Mrs Reilly challenged pupils, staff, and families to complete a sponsored 10km cycle, walk or run and we are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have raised well over £3,500! This astonishing sum has been donated to the Belville Community Garden Trust and their ‘Bridge the Digital Divide’ campaign. The campaign aims to bring educational technology to families in Inverclyde, one of the regions in Scotland worst affected by the pandemic.
The Belville Community Garden Trust said:
'We are thrilled at the amount of money that has been raised by the St Columba’s Day 10K activities and it is particularly heartening to see both parents and children participating, and the range of physical activities undertaken. The amount raised will provide refurbished laptops and wi-fi dongles for at least 13 vulnerable families. To date, we have supplied 257 refurbished laptops and wi-fi dongles to secondary schools in Inverclyde. Headteachers have identified those pupils who are not able to log into Glow accounts and participate in school work.
We are continuing the “Bridge the Digital Divide” campaign to fund P7 pupils who are about to start secondary school. We aim to raise over £97,000. One headteacher stated that this appeal is providing a “lifeline” for her pupils, allowing young people to continue their education, communicate with their teachers, get work marked, as well as communicate socially with peers. Our work has featured on STV, BBC 2 Newsnight and BBC Radio Scotland, the Greenock Telegraph, the Sunday Post and Guardian newspapers.
As schools are only returning part time in August, it will be increasingly vital for children to have access to technology to keep up with school work.
If any parents have old laptops that they no longer need, we can pick these up and they will be wiped to the highest industry standards by Ian Hair of Gourock computer store (IT Systems). To organise for us to collect a laptop, parents can call 01475 726034 or email me on this address.'
We are so proud of our Columban community and we wish all those involved in the “Bridge the Digital Divide” campaign all the very best with their most worthwhile cause.