STORENGY PLEDGE SUPPORT TO BLACON HIGH SCHOOL FOR #GETTINGSTUDENTSONLINE

Following the recent launch of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership’s #GettingStudentsOnline campaign, Northwich-based Storengy is the latest business to provide kit bundles to students at Blacon High School, Chester.

More than 2,400 students in the region do not have access to a computer or broadband to access online lessons and join all-class activities.  Now, as many students are not expected to return to school earlier than September, there has never been a more critical time to support our students and minimise the impact on academic progress. 

Thanks to local business Storengy and the LEP, 24 kits - comprising a device and 3-months broadband access - will be provided to Blacon High School, with their students one of the first cohort to receive kit bundles.  The benefits of having the kits will be felt long after schools return as they will also be used for homework and school holiday camps. 

Michael Gibson, managing director at Storengy, said: “We’ve developed a strong relationship with Cheshire and Warrington LEP in recent years and we’re thrilled to be supporting such a vital, much-needed campaign.

“To be able to lend a hand to local students who could be our future workforce is fantastic and we hope that our involvement will help improve their home learning during this period.”

Chris Matheson MP for Chester is supporting the campaign and said: “During these difficult times, it is absolutely imperative that children and young people have the resources that they need to continue their education. Sadly, we know that many often go without access to these vital online resources, and so it has been great to see the inspiring work done by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership in their #GettingStudentsOnline campaign.

“This donation to Blacon High School will make a huge difference to the pupils, and I wish to thank all those who have stepped in to support this brilliant campaign.”

Blacon High School Headteacher, Rachel Hudson said: “We are delighted to receive this funding which will enable us to provide laptops for 24 students.  During these unprecedented times, it will be such a great help for students. Many families don’t have a suitable device and we also know that there are those where it is shared with others in the house all trying to work or access online learning.  This will enable the students in receipt of the technology to access much more of the home learning available, to prepare them for their final year in school. We are extremely grateful for the support being given to our community at this difficult time. 

Trevor Brocklebank, deputy chair of the LEP, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received support from so many businesses in the early days of the campaign.  We are grateful to businesses like Storengy who are supporting our local community and want to help our students take part in online schooling. 

“New national research suggests that the academic gap could widen by up to 75% for those students not able to get online, we absolutely must not allow that to happen in our region.  

“We’re confident that, with the support of local businesses, we can make a real difference to many students’ lives during these truly unprecedented times.”

To find out more information about the Computers for Schools campaign, visit: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/getting-students-online/

Pictured:

Dylan Chard, Y10 student, receiving his laptop.

L-R: Rachel Hudson (Headteacher, Blacon High School), Dylan Chard (student), Trevor Brocklebank (deputy chair, Cheshire and Warrington LEP), Michael Gibson (MD, Storengy), Chris Matheson MP Chester.