City Schools receive donation to support covid-19 recovery

TEN schools located in some of the most deprived parts of the city in Stoke-on-Trent were supplied with a donation to buy urgent IT equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the midst of lockdown, Genr8 Developments, who work with Stoke-on-Trent City Council on the delivery of the Smithfield city centre development, contacted the council to offer support to local schools.

Genr8 supplied £1000 cash donations to each of these schools which were used to buy IT equipment so pupils could access lessons remotely whilst they were at home and to buy more advanced equipment ready for when they returned to school. The donations were a much need help to schools as they dealt with the changing teaching environments.

As the 2020/2021 academic year comes to an end, the schools have shared their thanks for these much needed cash donations to buy equipment.

The Crescent Academy in Meir was one of the 10 schools that received a donation. Head teacher Adam Clewes said: “The donation from Genr8 went towards our iMac Suite, which is being well used to give children opportunities they have not had before. Technology is always changing, and we want Crescent children to be confident in trying something new. iMacs are being used all over the world so we want the children here to be ready to access a machine wherever they may find themselves in the future.”

Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for the economy and education, said: “Our schools have had a tough year. They have had to adapt to new ways of teaching and have faced challenges in supporting many of their pupils to learn remotely. Thanks to Genr8’s donation, some of our schools in the most deprived areas of the city have been able to further support pupils digitally.”

Richard Ingham, partner at Genr8 Developments said: “It is really important to us that we support the local communities surrounding our schemes. The pandemic has been really tough, particularly on children at such an important time in their development – we are just so pleased we can offer this support to make this small difference.”