Three local business leaders have joined forces to create the #makingITpossible campaign in a bid to tackle the digital divide.

It has been created by Gary Jordan, managing director of GMJ Solutions and chair of Mansfield and Ashfield 2020); Martin Rigley, managing director of Lindhurst Engineering, Sutton and chair of Discover Ashfield; and Katie Cooper-Lewis, chief executive of Concept 360 and The Making It Industrial Heritage Trust, Mansfield.

The campaign aims to bridge the digital divide by providing much-needed IT resources to children and young people in Mansfield and Ashfield.

Businesses and schools are operating under a ‘new normal’ that is heavily reliant on technology and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is intensifying the digital divide.

Many children and young people do not have access to a computer, laptop, tablet and internet outside school. In some schools, the divide is as much as 30%.

The campaigners said without this core digital infrastructure, children and young people cannot access education at home and it can have several other detrimental effects, including on mental health.

The #makingITpossible campaign is asking for monetary and IT equipment donations, which it will then award to local schools to support children and young people most in need of IT at home.

The schools will have to complete an application form set against specific criteria. Details of this application process will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The three campaigners said: “Children and young people have been and, in places, continue to have to learn from home.

“However, many of them do not have the resources to do so and are at great risk of falling behind.

“We cannot express how important technology is to a child’s education in this modern era. Only a few weeks ago, technology enabled us to continue to support and judge a Dragon Den’s programme at a local school. Without technology in this current climate, none of that would have been possible.

“We know times are difficult but with the biggest please, if you can donate a spare £5 or have old IT equipment lying around, please donate to this fantastic cause and let’s help our local children and young people and protect our future.”

Sue Bridges, head of King Edward Primary School, Mansfield, said “This is an amazing initiative.

“Too many of our local children are unable to access education outside of school and, if we are not careful, this will have a detrimental effect of their long-term education.

“This is an unprecedented time and with little funding available, this campaign will enable us, here at King Edward, and other schools to provide this much need help to our pupils.”

If you would like to support the #makingITpossible campaign, monetary donations can be made via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/makingitpossible and IT equipment can be donated at Concept 360. Call 01623 473200 or email [email protected] to arrange a drop off time.