This Summer, the Raspberry Pi Foundation announced that, in response to the pandemic, they would be distributing free Raspberry Pi computers to students who are unable to complete their school work at home because they do not have the right technology. Catch22 received 250 devices from Raspberry Pi through this scheme.
As teachers and staff at our Colleges begin to distribute devices amongst their students, we asked them about their experience of providing students with their kits.
Steve McGee, College Manager at Catch22 College Great Yarmouth, told us about the impact this donation could have on the students they support:
“It is well documented that access to technologies and educational attainment are inexorably linked, as is educational achievement and economic wellbeing. Whilst this may seem like a small gesture, it really does start to chip away at the structural inequality that the majority of our service users face. The impact on those who we work with are manifold, but for me, the most important thing is that they will not feel excluded from the digital revolution, and this will have a massive bearing on their self-esteem, which in turn, increases their chances of engaging positively in civil society.
“It is a small, but significant step in the fight against poverty, and in the current climate, it is vital that we do everything we can to empower our young people, providing them with the resources that enable them to reach their full potential. I am pleased to be able to play a very small part in that.
“Thank you to Raspberry Pi and Catch22 for making it happen!”