Greater Manchester Technology Fund

In April 2020, The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in partnership with Virgin Media Business launched phase one of the GM Technology Fund; investing £150,000 in 567 kit bundles for disadvantaged and digitally excluded pupils working closely with schools and colleges to identify those most in need.
In response to the immediate closure of schools in England on the 5th January, The Mayor of Greater Manchester has launched phase two of the Greater Manchester Technology Fund to support disadvantaged and digitally excluded pupils to continue their education from home. The GMCA is coordinating industry action and calling upon the strengths of businesses to help address digital exclusion and opportunity gaps for young people in Greater Manchester, further heightened by the impact of COVID-19.

With your help, this fund will provide digitally disadvantaged young people in schools and colleges across Greater Manchester with the digital kit required to
access online learning applications, lessons and resources while young people are unable to attend school because of school closures. The GMCA estimates that the national programme may support up to 80,000 remote learners in GM, but this will still leave 15,000-20,000 young people needing a device.

We ask that businesses join us to deliver this scheme by supporting with:

Devices – Donations of new or refurbished devices, particularly laptops
Connectivity -Donations of sim cards, portable hotspots, dongles & other connectivity
Financial donations – To support the expansion of the fund and potential procurement
Champion! – Share the fund on your social media channels Businesses able to support young people through this important fund can do so by visiting: www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMTF
#GMTECHFUND