Chamber calls for laptops for schools support

Calling on the local business community, the aim of the programme is to encourage firms to offer support, make a financial contribution to buy equipment or to donate any unwanted laptops.

Setting out details of the initiative, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Colm Shannon said the Chamber would like to enhance the ‘excellent’ partnership between local companies and schools.

She continued: “The business community in Newry has an excellent relationship with local schools.

“With the new lockdown restrictions, our schools are faced with the very difficult challenge of organising home schooling.

“Not all children have access to personal computers, which makes the challenge of home schooling more difficult.

“The Chamber has reached out to the business community to see what support is available.

“From time-to-time businesses need to upgrade their laptops and many of the older laptops may be suitable for a pupil to use from home.

“We have also been approached with the offer of support to buy laptops.

“If it is easier to make a financial donation, the Chamber can purchase laptops on the company’s behalf, or they can be purchased directly by the company.

“We are pleased to have secured preferential prices with two of our members, Newry Computer Centre, and AMI LTD, through their retail site refreshedbyus.com.

“If businesses want to donate laptops they no longer need, it is important they are in good working order and have been cleaned of all personal and commercial data. AMI can also arrange for the laptops to be professional cleansed.”

Colm Shannon also added: “This initiative may not help every school and every child, but we hope it will be a small step to support our children’s education at this difficult time.”

Any business that would like to help, either by making a financial donation or providing laptops, should get in contact with the Chamber [email protected]

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