DISTRIBUTION of laptops, tablets, iPads and desktop computers donated to support home schooling pupils has started in earnest by the Rotary Satellite E-Club of Barnard Castle.

Fifty items were offered up following an appeal by the club, with many items being given to the project after donors had received new equipment at Christmas.

Ben Collins, of TinkerDog Computers, Barnard Castle ensures that all donated items are digitally cleaned to industry standards, and, where possible, made “student ready” with appropriate software. To aid an increased capacity, the e-club has arranged for the purchase of additional hardware.

A donation of £500 by Durham County Councillors Richard Bell, George Richardson, Ted Henderson, and Heather Smith is being used to assist in this, and also with the purchase of child-proof cases, power adaptors and other items to help prepare the equipment for distribution to schools.

With confidentiality and safeguarding strategies in place, the first distribution of donated equipment to local schools started earlier this month, with the delivery of iPads to St Mary’s RCVA Primary School and several laptops and tablets are currently being made ready for a local secondary school. All Teesdale schools have either been or are being contacted by the e-club to establish their IT needs.

Natalie Carter Sedgewick, business manager at St Mary’s, said: “The iPads donated have been a huge support in these unusual times – we have been able to offer more devices to children at home and still retain some in school for the children still attending.”

Dr Richard Witham, chairman of the Rotary Satellite E-Club, said: “It’s marvellous that so many people have donated IT items they no longer use. One of Rotary’s core aims is service to the local community and we will do our best to ensure that every item received will benefit a Barnard Castle or Teesdale schoolchild.”

Donations of laptops, tablets and iPads are still welcomed. Ideally laptops should be less than five to six years old and have Windows Seven, Eight or Ten installed (upgrades to Windows Ten can be undertaken where necessary) – with any equipment found to be faulty or too old being used for repairs and spares. For information on how to donate, email rotarysatbc@gmail.com