Home technology upgrade for Speyside pupils
Speyside primary and secondary school pupils are benefiting from a £25,000 donation of laptops and wifi dongles from distillers William Grant & Sons.
The devices are being distributed through schools to families identified as requiring support to stay connected for online learning.
Quality Improvement Manager for Moray Council, Karen Lees, said: “We know that future localised outbreaks of any sort, not just the current covid-19, could result in blended or online learning being the default for some pupils. In order to future-proof our preparations for this, ensuring access to wifi connections and required technology is crucial.
“We’re extremely grateful to William Grant & Sons for recognising how beneficial this type of donation for technology is for families in Speyside.”
Cllr Sonya Warren, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Services Committee, said: “Moray Council had been considering its programme of improving access to technology for learning prior to lockdown but the global pandemic accelerated the need for this support.
“For William Grant & Sons to step in and support Speyside families in this way is an extremely generous gesture and one that means we’re able to keep our families in some of the most remote parts of Moray connected.”
Kirsty Dagnan, William Grant & Sons Dufftown Site Leader, said: “As a family-owned Scottish company, supporting local communities across the areas we operate in is important to us.
“Through this donation, we’re delighted to show our support for families across Speyside by ensuring students have access to the technology they need to continue learning remotely.”
Families at Speyside High School, Aberlour, Craigellachie, Knockando, Mortlach and Rothes Primary Schools will benefit from these donations.