Power to Connect
Today sees the launch of Power to Connect, a partnership between Battersea Power Station, Wandsworth Council and local community organisations (like us at KLS), which will provide data access and IT equipment to local Wandsworth residents struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With school closures throughout the country due to the COVID-19 outbreak, parents and children are having to quickly adapt to home schooling. For many families however, learning at home is an impossible challenge due to limited access to data and computers.
Data
Following discussions with local Councillors and Community Leaders, Battersea Power Station (BPS) has identified that households without broadband in the local area are relying on ‘Pay As You Go’ data, often on one device, to download school work and try to stay connected with friends and family through the outbreak. As part of the Power to Connect campaign, BPS through the BPS Foundation has pledged to purchase £10,000 worth of top up data vouchers, to be donated to schools in Wandsworth which will distribute these to local families in need during this challenging time.
Laptops and Tablets
In addition to the data vouchers, BPS has also launched a laptop and tablet collection drive to help both local families who do not have a computer at home, and patients at St George’s NHS Hospital in Tooting, who may be struggling to stay in touch with loved ones during these unprecedented times.
A laptop refurbishment hub has been set up with strict social distancing practices in place. It will be staffed by a minimal number of volunteers who will wipe the computers before turning them into Chromebooks. Each device will be thoroughly cleaned and delivered to community organisations, who will distribute them to local families, as well as St George’s NHS Hospital, who will distribute them to patients.
More information
For more information and to get involved please visit: powertoconnect.co.uk
Spread the Word
Please do spread the word that Power to Connect is looking for both donations of working devices and volunteers to help refurbish them.
The team behind ‘Power to Connect’ outside St George’s primary school