Mayor backs £300 million to help disadvantaged children in Sheffield

Dan Jarvis, Sheffield City Region mayor, Doncaster Central MP Rosie Winterton and Rotherham MP Sarah Champion have signed their support in a letter from the Northern Powerhouse All-Party Parliamentary Group to the Education Secretary.

A number of northern politicians are calling on a fund of £300 million to fund laptops and adequate broadband connection to thousands of less affluent children - many on free school meals - to carry on with their studies during the Covid-19 lockdown.

This follows work by the mayor on closing the ‘digital divide’ in South Yorkshire and ensuring all children have access to appropriate technology and a reliable internet connection.

Mr Jarvis said: “I am pleased to support this important and timely campaign by the Northern Powerhouse APPG to ensure the coronavirus crisis doesn’t worsen inequality for children from the most-deprived backgrounds.

“The digital divide is a vitally-important issue affecting communities across South Yorkshire.

“I am working closely with local schools, further and higher education institutions, education trade unions, third-sector organisations and the Labour Party front bench to ensure that every child has access to suitable technology and a reliable internet connection.

“I welcome the Government’s announcement that laptops and 4G routers will be made available to care leavers, children with social workers and those in exam years, but this must go further to ensure no child is left behind because of the digital divide.

"Where you grow up should not determine where you end up.”

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