Pubgoers help Northamptonshire children learn from home with donated laptops and tech

A Daventry Disrict village pub is doing its bit to help children learn from home by donating laptops and tech to disadvantaged children.

The team behind The Narrowboat in Weedon took action after finding it "unfair" that pupils had no choice but to take classes from home when they don't have access to a tablet or a laptop.

Now, after a successful fundraising campaign, owners Karen and Richard have given away four tablets and four laptops so children can keep learning through the lockdown.

Karen Bray said: "We just wanted to help families who, for no fault of there own, find themselves trying to home school without a laptop or tablet to work on.

"We are so pleased with how this scheme has gone so far and very grateful for all the donations. However these schools still have need of more machines, as they still have families without them."

Over £1,000 to buy tablets was raised in less than two weeks after The Narrowboat launched a campaign on crowdfunding website GoFundMe, where dozens of generous local residents made donations.

And even then, a total of four laptops were donated by kindhearted residents which were professionally wiped for free by Weedon Bec company Tech-Village.

Now, the tech has been donated to schools in Flore, Nether Heyford and Weedon.

The Narrowboat is also offering Free Packed Lunches and offering a Free Printing Service for any parents who need school work printed.

A thank you note from Flore CE Primary School read: "I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation.

"These will be offered to families who are in great need of suitable technology to access remote learning. Thank you to you and all those supporting the Narrowboat in this much-appreciated venture."

Karen said: "Thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen, as well as to my head chef Julie Hunt who has still been coming in to the pub kitchen every day to provide free school meals for children."

For more information on the fundraiser and to donate towards more school tech, visit the Narrowboat's GoFundMe page.