TWO Worcester schools are celebrating after receiving a grant to purchase laptops.

Carnforth School in Warndon and Hollymount School in Tolladine have been awarded a total grant of £10,500 from Platform Housing Group; the money has been used to purchase 33 laptops.

The schools successfully applied for the grant through the social landlord’s Platform Community Chest, with a customer panel approving the application.

Platform customers, charities, clubs and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to bring about positive changes for Platform communities.

The laptops – which are helping to support children accessing remote learning during the pandemic – are currently on loan to families, will return to school when children are back and continue to have a positive impact on the education of pupils.

School children at both the schools – part of the Black Pear Trust, which also includes St George’s Church of England Primary School – have suffered from digital deprivation for many years, which has led to inequality of provision.

Grants such as these help to narrow this inequality.

Emma Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer at the Black Pear Trust said : “Platform Housing continues to be very supportive of both Hollymount and Carnforth schools and we would like to send heartfelt thanks for their generosity.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have been given this money that will ensure children who have little or no access to digital devices, are now able to take part fully in their learning.

“During school closure, both schools have developed a system of blended learning, including both paper based and digital resources, as well as daily opportunities for children to join live learning sessions.”

Paul Edwards, community officer at Platform Housing Group said : “Giving back to our communities is a vital part of the work we do and we are absolutely delighted to be able to provide funds to help make a positive difference.”

Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South.

Earlier this month, three other Worcestershire schools were given new laptops for free to help with lockdown learning.

The three schools which have each received three Amazon Fire tablets are St George’s Catholic Primary in Worcester, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Droitwich and Somers Park School in Malvern.

The free computers came after local firm Nicol and Co made a donation to an online fundraiser called Computers for Home Schooling.