Glasgow Clyde College Supports Students with Tech

Glasgow Clyde College distributes more than 300 laptops and mobile broadband devices to help students stay connected amid Covid-19

07:13 28 May 2020

Glasgow Clyde College has partnered with Glasgow Clyde Education Foundation to purchase and distribute 231 new laptops and 83 mobile broadband devices to help ensure that students stay connected during the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisations are also behind the Giftech initiative, which offers a sustainable way to re-purpose and recycle college ICT assets and gift them to local communities. They are working with housing associations to help those most in need to access the internet to fight isolation and have access to basic services, like to order groceries and medicine. 

 

The scheme follows the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation that shows almost half of Glasgow residents are living in financial deprivation and have no means to purchase computers or access the internet. During the current Covid-19 lockdown, life for these people has been especially difficult as they have been confined at home with limited or no access to internet in order to work remotely, keep up to date with the news, order shopping or even stay in touch with friends and family. 

 

Another study carried out by the Citizens Advice Bureau found that only 54per cent of their clients has access to internet at home. Figures also show that in 2019, roughly 60per cent of Scottish households owned a laptop, around 50per cent have a tablet and 20per cent own a desktop computer. 

 

Glasgow Clyde College and Glasgow Clyde Education Foundation say that tech poverty is not a new concern for the people of Glasgow. However, at a time when the internet is considered a basic necessity, everybody has to do what we can to help those in need.