Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, is spearheading a new initiative to combat digital poverty and encouraging local businesses to donate unused devices.
Over 6,600 households are deprived of education and over 3,500 households face employment deprivation, revealing the gap in digital access is a huge issue on the Isle of Wight.
This drive aims to bridge this digital divide by providing much-needed laptops to schools and community groups, ensuring better access to digital resources for those who are stuck.
As part of the ongoing efforts to address low levels of digital engagement on the Isle of Wight, Quigley has partnered with the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) to launch this campaign.
According to recent research, despite the Isle of Wight’s effective broadband connectivity, income deprivation and limited access to technology have hindered digital engagement for many families. This has led to significant challenges in accessing essential services like education, healthcare, banking and employment.
Richard Quigley MP comments:
“The Digital Poverty Alliance has done great work around the country, and I’d like to thank CEO Elizabeth Anderson for quickly taking up the challenge for the Island after our meeting.”
“The low levels of digital engagement they have found is worrying and as more and more services move to digital formats, I am so pleased that this campaign asks for laptop donations from local businesses, to help our schools and communities to be better connected.”
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Local businesses are encouraged to donate laptops, tablets and devices that are no longer in use to increase digital inclusion, enabling local residents, particularly those in areas in income deprivation, to access the essential services they need.
The devices will be thoroughly checked, wiped and restored before being distributed to schools and communities across the Island.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, comments:
“We are thrilled to support Richard Quigley’s initiative to tackle digital poverty on the Isle of Wight, and this donation drive represents crucial steps towards bridging the digital divide.
“Ensuring local schools and communities have access to the technology they need to thrive is crucial in today’s digital world.
“Despite the island’s strong broadband infrastructure, many families still face significant barriers to accessing essential online services. Empowering individuals with laptops and devices creates more equal opportunities for education, employment and access to vital services.”
How about tackling REAL poverty, I think you will find most “poorer” people have a mobile phone, we as everyone know can access the internet. Start saying something worthy and stop spouting a load of worthless rhetoric.
I thought he was too busy still sorting the
Ferries, obviously not.
Totally agree
Not sure kids in schools or older people needing digital help in the community centres could access some of the programmes needed, spreadsheets etc on a mobile phone, even if they had one? Or did you just not read the article properly? Again.
How about the Labour Government giving
Companies a tax break to help them through
these difficult times, instead he is asking businesses
to help people.
Lol
Because it’s tax breaks for businesses in general that reduced the funds for services that put people IN these difficult times. And as those poor, impoverished companies will tell you, they already get infrastructure investment to update their systems. What they chuck out HELPS THOSE IN DIFFICULT TIMES!
Totally agree with you, dont expect anything from this useless clown of a Labour councillor, his face says it all I’m a greedy sod stuff everybody else.
That’s a typical overpaid politician for you.
£90,000.00+ a year salary, not to mention
extortionate expenses and 2nd home costs.
No wonder the country is skint, we are paying for
650 of these persons.
80 hours a week (yes, they really do) puts them on roughly 20 quid an hour. Minimum wage road sweeper= £13.
Some exploit the expenses and housing costs as we know, but cast your mind back and go digging for the news stories and generally you’ll find they are the Tory MPs.
We’re skint because the mega rich pay less tax than we do, and hoard that wealth offshore.
Total MPs wages= £58.5m
The Sunaks’ personal wealth= in excess of £1.2bn. How much tax do they pay on the income derived from their wealth? Pretty much the same as we do, in spite of the fact that it should be in the region of 45%.