GM Tech Fund - Can your business support?

Overview

In 2020, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), in partnership with Virgin Media Business, launched Phase 1 of the Greater Manchester Technology Fund; investing £150,000 in 567 kit bundles for disadvantaged and digitally excluded pupils and working with headteachers to identify those most in need.

As beneficial as this has been to those young people and their families, we must do more to address the deep digital divide and the impact on the life chances of our most vulnerable young people.

In response to the immediate closure of schools in England on the 5th January, The Mayor of Greater Manchester has launched Phase 2 of the Greater Manchester Technology Fund to support disadvantaged and digitally excluded pupils to continue their education from home.

Greater Manchester businesses are asked to support the fund to address digital and social exclusion in Greater Manchester and ensure young people across the city-region have equal access to learning and opportunity, regardless of background or situation. 

Businesses are being asked to pledge to:  

• Donate new devices particularly laptops, Chromebooks and iPads   
• Donate sim cards, portable hotspots, dongles and other connectivity devices   
• Make a financial donation to enable the purchase of digital kit bundles 
• Donate working devices to be repurposed by Business in the Community 
• Volunteer time to become ‘learning coaches’ to train young people to use their new technology to access their lessons online