Report by Ann Pendleton, Project Manager of Full Service Community Network.

"The disease is a great leveler where rich and poor suffer the same" is a myth that has been portrayed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Emily Maitlis, a BBC reporter on Newsnight, debunked this myth, challenging the public to recognise that not only do old status zero inequalities remain, but during a crisis like COVID-19, these are in fact magnified.

As formal education moves from schools to home, there has been a wider realisation that many young people and their families do not have access to basic necessities including food, finances and the internet. This is further exacerbated for young people who have added challenges such as those living in care, those with disabilities, and those living in situations where violence is prevalent etc. (Carnegie Trust UK, 2020).

The European Council Resolution on the European Youth Strategy 2019 – 2027 notes, “this generation is the best educated ever and especially skilled in using Information and Communication Technologies and Social Media.”

Whilst this may be true for some, it certainly isn't for those who are most marginalised.

NoOneLeftBehind Campaign

When the pandemic first began to impact on school life in March 2020, Ann Pendleton, Project Manager of the Full Service Community Network, (FSCN) based in St Mary’s University College, worked hard to try to access computer hardware for children and families within our post-primary schools who do not have access to computer technology, nor in some cases internet access at home.

As a result nine reconditioned laptops were delivered to local families. A joint funding application was submitted with All Saints College to the Halifax Foundation and a call was made to local universities for support.

St Mary’s University College responded positively to calls for help and ‘decommissioned’ twenty-nine redundant iPads held in the College and passed them on to FSCN for long-term loan to those children identified by schools as being most in need. FSCN are indebted to St Mary’s for their help and support with this mammoth task.

De La Salle College was delighted to receive a laptop and thirteen iPads loaned on behalf of St Mary's and the FSCN. The equipment was given to pupils to provide support with their continued participation in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and pupils were delighted at this provision.

St Louise’s Comprehensive College was contacted by Ann Pendleton via the Area Learning Community to offer four laptops to newcomer students who did not have adequate access to computer equipment at home. The equipment was distributed to families that perhaps had one small device to share in a large family or indeed were not able to get access to any suitable device during the lockdown period. Many families were struggling to meet the demands of the 'new normal' - online learning. Whilst the school was able to provide paper copies to those families, this did not offer the pupils the same freedom to explore information, express themselves creatively, receive feedback and discuss work with friends and be part of the learning community. Ann was able to source twelve iPads from St Mary’s, which were gratefully received by the school and the families.

St Mary’s Grammar was also aware that remote learning would be particularly challenging for a number of young people and their parents. A primary concern was identifying the level of accessibility pupils had to appropriate technology which would facilitate them in accessing learning. It seemed that each week more students with limited or no access were displaying increased anxiety about falling further behind their peers. The school received communication via colleagues in the West Belfast Area Learning Community, that FSCN in partnership with St Mary's University College were offering temporary loans of iPads for three priority students from socially disadvantaged areas. In addition, efforts were made to ensure that the software on the iPads was relevant and appropriate for post-primary students. As plans were being made for the exchange of equipment, a fourth student from a newcomer family, who had joined the school community in February, became the recipient of a fourth iPad and was very appreciative of this “act of kindness”.