Young people given computer tablets to help with homeschooling during lockdown

Heart Breakfast and TalkTalk are supporting a number of young people with new tech to help with homeschooling. 

Homeschooling is challenging for families up and down the country, especially for families who don’t have digital equipment.

Availability of tech is proving a massive barrier to young people successfully completing school tasks.

Schools are struggling to support the unexpected spike in demand for equipment in pupils homes.

Heart Breakfast recognise that there is an urgent need to get devices in to the homes of the kids being locked out of lessons. They’ve teamed up with TalkTalk to help ease the pressure by giving new devices to a number of children, including Matea.

Matea is supported by Make Some Noise funded charity Prospex. They’re working to improve the lives of at-risk young people across North London.

Matea is currently sharing 1 laptop with her sister and mum who are also studying and working from home.

Not only does their lack of tech make it difficult for the family to learn and work, but it also means that they miss out on vital family time.

Another young person homeschooling who is benefiting from a new tablet is 15-year-old Joss. Listen below to hear her reaction.

Joss is in her final year at Secondary school. The pandemic has disrupted her learning.

Her family don’t own any digital equipment and she is currently sharing a borrowed laptop with her two siblings.

Heart Breakfast’s Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden wanted to support Joss, so together with TalkTalk they gave her a new tablet.

Joss is supported by CancerCare, a charity that’s received funding from Make Some Noise.

CancerCare has been there for Joss since she lost her sister tragically in a car crash.

The charity provides counselling and opportunities for Joss to meet other young people who have experienced the loss of a loved one.