Asda provides 440 Dell laptops to schools to help tackle digital exclusion

Thousands of children across the country will be given free laptops

Asda has announced that it is working with Dell Technologies to provide 440 laptops to schools across the region to help those children who are at risk of falling behind in their education because they do not have the technology to take part in online lessons during lockdown.  

The supermarket has formed a partnership with technology provider Dell and is investing £2.0m so that every Asda store in the UK can donate at least 10 laptops to a school in need in their local community. 

Asda will donate 7,000 laptops to schools nationally, this includes 440 across Greater Manchester.

Each laptop comes with a tech bundle that includes a headset and a mobile internet dongle with a data allowance of 20gb from Asda’s network partner Vodafone.

The dongle and data allowance has been funded by a separate £500,000 contribution from the retailer’s charity arm, The Asda Foundation.

Laptops will also include a one-year warranty and technical support.     

Asda has launched this initiative to support schools in its communities that are struggling with digital exclusion.

According to Ofcom, around 9% of children in the UK – between 1.1 million and 1.8 million – do not have access to a laptop, desktop or tablet at home.

These children are primarily from disadvantaged backgrounds and at risk of falling further behind with their education. 

Asda, working closely with Dell Technologies, expect to deliver the first shipment of laptops directly to schools next month with the remainder to follow in March.

Each school will manage the distribution to priority pupils, and Asda’s in house IT support team will also provide support to any school that needs help to set up the equipment. 

Roger Burnley, CEO and President of Asda, said: “It’s clear that digital exclusion is an issue affecting many thousands of children who attend schools in communities that we serve.

"These children have been disproportionately affected by the lockdown and are at risk of falling further behind their peers.

"We want to do all we can to help break down the digital barriers so they can continue their education remotely.”

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