CRASH Services donates to Derry school equipment scheme

Northern Ireland’s largest car accident management company has lent its support to an initiative to help children with home schooling equipment here in Derry.
Photo from left to right: Eoghan Barr (Derryware Donations), Nuala Griffiths (New2You), Sean McLaughlin (CRASH Services) and Paul Cooney (CRASH Services).Photo from left to right: Eoghan Barr (Derryware Donations), Nuala Griffiths (New2You), Sean McLaughlin (CRASH Services) and Paul Cooney (CRASH Services).
Photo from left to right: Eoghan Barr (Derryware Donations), Nuala Griffiths (New2You), Sean McLaughlin (CRASH Services) and Paul Cooney (CRASH Services).

CRASH Services donated £3,000 to the New2You Centre for the Derryware Donations project, an innovative upcycling scheme that will ensure children in socially deprived areas are able to continue with home schooling during the current lockdown restrictions.

Derryware Donations, a joint venture by local IT specialist and teacher, Eoghan Barr, and the New2You Centre at Pennyburn Recycling Centre, is encouraging people and businesses to search out devices such as laptops and tablets that they no longer use, which will be refurbished and equipped with the necessary software required for remote learning through Google Classroom.

The much-needed initiative will use the money provided by CRASH to acquire batteries for refurbished laptops, which will then be distributed to children in the local area. This will help to alleviate the pressures of home learning for some families, as well as addressing the shortage of devices to facilitate home schooling.

Nuala Griffiths, manager at New2You, said: “We are extremely grateful to CRASH Services for their very generous donation. The project has continually grown in demand and every bit of help we receive is greatly appreciated.

“Through support from individuals and local businesses, we can ensure children in the local area are able to continue with their home schooling.”

Eoghan Barr said the scheme had received a great response since it was launched in the Derry and Strabane areas – so far, 94 devices have been distributed to families.

“Home schooling has created enormous pressure for families and parents, who may not have the resources to buy a new device, or the hardware required, but this initiative has enabled children in many local families who are in need, to continue their education with Google Classroom,” he explained.

Sean McLaughlin, from CRASH Services, said the company was only too happy to support the local community since opening its Derry branch over 18 months ago.

“When we heard about the Derryware Donations project, we wanted to help out,” he said. “It’s a fantastic way to assist families during such a challenging time, so we are delighted to be able to get involved with the scheme.”

Four of the laptops have been given to families through SureStart Shantallow. One family has eight children, four of whom are of school age and need a device each to do their work.

“It has been extremely difficult for them to cope with the needs and demands of all the children with very limited resources,” says Liz Bonham, Family Support Coordinator. “These will help make a big difference in these homes where both parents and children have been struggling to cope with the demands placed upon them by the Covid restrictions and home schooling.”

Find out more about the scheme at www.derrywaredonations.org

For details of CRASH Services, visit www.crashservices.com