The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide issue with young people from low income families unable to access online learning, older people being isolated and unable to connect with loved ones, and jobseekers unable to reenter the labour market. ELBA is asking for your support to help bridge the digital divide so that the most vulnerable in our society have access to the internet and associated technology.

ELBA works with hundreds of frontline charities and community organisations in east London. These organisations support a number of different causes and beneficiaries including young people, older people, mental health, people with disabilities and jobseekers. All money raised through our Digital Divide campaign will be spent on digital devices to get these beneficiaries connected. This includes laptops, tablets, smartphones and mobile routers.

We are currently prioritising three beneficiary groups:

-Young people who need to access online learning

-Jobseekers that need to apply online for jobs and to support them working from home

-Older people that are isolated and unable to access services like online shopping

In January, ELBA distributed 70 laptops and 30 tablets to young people in east London. One organisation that received laptops was from Account 3, a BME women led organisation that promotes women's economic independence. They were working with 3 single mums who were at "breaking point." Each had multiple children and were struggling with the schools closing, trying to home school and still provide for the family.

One of the mums is a key worker and her eldest child is doing his GCSEs. They have one device for the whole family so have prioritised him using the laptop. The youngest girl is in primary school though and wasn't provided with a device. She has been falling behind and hadn't attended many of her online classes.

After receiving a laptop, the mum from one family said "thank you so much, it made a huge difference to our life."