"It’s opened my daughter’s world up in lockdown," says Sheffield dad gifted a laptop from Laptops For Kids

Robert Robinson reached out to the local charitable organisation a few days ago, when a third lockdown looked imminent, following a miserable experience with his daughter Rane last spring

With no suitable devices available to them at home, the family was left struggling as the country went into its first national lockdown back in March, trying to help Rane complete her schoolwork on Robert’s mobile phone.

“We didn’t have any devices that were up to the task, and so we were trying to complete activities and keep up with her schoolwork from my phone, which just wasn’t realistic,” Robert said.

“As a result, Rane became frustrated and reluctant to sit down and do the work.

"When it looked like the schools were going to be closing again, I knew we needed another option; that’s when I came across the Laptops For Kids website.”

The charitable organisation accepts donated computers, sending them to The Sheffield College to be erased before passing them along to the city’s disadvantaged young people.

This free of charge service enables children across the city to keep up with their schoolwork from home.

Within days of contacting the organisation, Robert and his wife Aneshia received a phone call to confirm a laptop had been earmarked for them.

It was delivered to their house in Middleton the next day by a representative from Sheffield College, one of the organisation’s partners.

Robert confirms it’s been a complete game-changer.

“It means so much, and is such a good feeling to know my daughter has everything she needs, at such a difficult time, to be able to do her schoolwork, and keep in touch with her teachers,” said dad-of-three Robert, who also has a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.

“This time around, she’s loving homeschooling; within an hour of getting the laptop set up, Rane had already uploaded her first piece of work, and had positive feedback from her teacher at Hillsborough Primary, so she was very excited and happy to be getting on.

"Instead of us pushing her to do work, like we were last time, she’s now asking us what work she can do, and she’s loving connected with her teachers and the other kids in her class.

"It’s honestly just opened up the world to her in lockdown.”

Robert said it has also introduced a new sense of calm and structure to their home.

"During lockdown, this is quite a complicated house, with three young kids, and myself running a food business from home,” admits Robert, a chef and nutritionist who runs The Personal Chef.

"Also I have asthma, as does my youngest daughter, so we’re effectively shielding here – balance has been tough.

"This week, Rane and River have been able to sit at the dining table and get on with their work, and it’s brought a new sense of focus and calm to everything.

"Rane really hasn’t wanted to leave the dining table during the day, and that means so much.

"We just didn’t have the materials before, but now it’s all there, and it’s easy, and she’s excited to get on with her work.

"We’re so grateful.”

Visit Laptop For Kids site for details.