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Families to lap-up free computers
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 29 January 2009
LOW-income families with more than one child will be able to claim two free laptop computers from Monday as part of a pioneering new Government scheme on trial in Oldham.
The Homes Access Scheme, which aims to bridge the digital divide, will be open to pupils who qualify for free school meals.
Households will be able to buy a computer and broadband package from a high street retailer — then claim the money back in council grants.
Families with more than one child will qualify for a maximum of two packages.
It is estimated that 8,500 seven to 18-year-olds in Oldham — one of only two councils involved in the trial along with Suffolk in East Anglia — meet the criteria.
Councillor Kay Knox, Cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “As one of only two councils to be involved in the pilot, we are committed to ending the digital divide.
“We want to make computers more affordable for those families on low incomes.
“For households with more than one child, a maximum of two packages per household will be available depending on certain criteria.”
The initiative is part of a £300 million Government programme to ensure every child has internet access by 2011.
It will be introduced nationally next autumn.
For more information, contact Oldham Council on 016-700 7770 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/ homeaccess
Comments
it would help if you gave a valid phone number and web site address
yet another incentive to quit working and go on benefits
lets hope this isn't just for families on benefit!!!!! working people are on low incomes aswell.
will anyone be keeping records ? Wonder how many will be on Ebay not long after. Computers at home are a luxury earned, not a necessity - there is free use in schools and libraries already. How many working people can afford to have TWO for their kids !! Not me, but my tax money will pay for someone else to have them !
Didn't the council also give out free computers to child minders not long ago ? Why not give some to pensioners too, they are on low incomes !
Why not just put a huge stack of them in the Tower Of Babble and let anyone who wants one, (or two, or seventeen), come in and help themselves.
Wheelie bins should be made available and as they are expensive items, a deposit,(refundable), could be made to ensure their return for future removal schemes.
I wonder who will be picking up the bill for virus removal and software problems that will inevitably arise?
I am a single mum who works full time and on a low income but i dont qualify for one of these. Why should people who dont pay in to the system keep taking from it.
why is this only avalible to kids whos parents dont work. i work full time on a low income and study aswel, but i cant afford to buy a laptop for when i go to uni next year. however the money they take of me in tax will pay for a laptop for the benifit dodgers who have never worked and probably never will if the goverment don't stop making the lifestyle so appealing. about time they remindid us why we actully get out of bed and go to work and do something decent for us.
iam a single mum who works full time and on a low income but i dont qualify for one of these why should people who dont pay in to the system keep taking from it
Have Your Say
Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper, just to buy them from the person who was able to walk out of the civic centre with a bright blue wheelie bin full....!
By C.AYRE @ 29/01/2009 13:15:54