A campaign seeking to provide laptops for youngsters in Cornwall at risk of falling behind has now exceeded its initial target of £75,000.

The Kit for Kids appeal will now be able to provide 375 laptops for young people across the county. The Department for Education provided 500 laptops to schools in Cornwall this month, and in different towns across the county, businesses and groups have been helping to support families who don’t have enough gadgets or data for everyone doing home schooling and work.

But there are still more than 1,800 children who don’t have access to a computer or an affordable data connection. The county-wide Kit For Kids Crowdfunding campaign was launched to get those young people the equipment they need.

The appeal was launched with a £20,000 donation from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, and around £11,000 has come from fines issued for COVID-19 breaches.

The Crowdfunder organisation has waived its normal fees and pledged to match £4,000.

With an initial £75,000 target, the appeal now stands at more than £76,000, and so a stretch target of £200,000 will be set. £200 is enough to provide one laptop.

Alex Lingard, head at Liskeard School and Community College, said: “There are many families across Cornwall disadvantaged by not having access to IT.

“Lack of internet connectivity or a lack of devices, such as laptops or home PCs, can often result in children falling behind in their education. This is even more the case during the current lockdown where lessons are being delivered online.

“Providing such resources to families unable to afford their own has a significant impact on their children’s education. Not only are pupils able to access their lessons, it gives them the tools to complete and submit work, but also, crucially, allows them to interact directly with their teachers and peers.”

The parent of a Year 8 pupil said: “Being supplied with a laptop by the school has been a lifesaver. Before we had one, my son struggled to access lessons on his phone and I really didn’t know how to help him.

“His motivation dropped and life at home became quite strained. With his new laptop, he can send his work to the teachers and keep up with the class.”

And a Year 10 pupil in Cornwall said: “Thank you for my laptop – it has helped me loads. Completing work has been much easier than on my tiny phone screen. It has made a massive difference to me. I feel like everyone else in the class now.”

Frances Brennan, who chairs the LEP’s Employment and Skills Board, said that the equipment purchased with donations would not only help families deal with the immediate homeschooling issues, but would create a legacy by bridging the digital divide for hundreds of children long after the pandemic is over.

Caitlin Gould, Chair of the Digital Skills Partnership and a director of Cornish software company Bluefruit, said: “The ability for families to have laptops and access to the internet in their home will help parents and carers to connect with schools for critical updates, find support from local community groups and create new opportunities for family learning. It isn’t just a laptop, it’s a lifeline that can make staying home and staying safe possible.”

To support the campaign please visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/Kit4Kids-cornwall