Cambridge BioScience Laptop Donation
The Pennypitt Community Development Trust project has operated for over 25 years in Prestonpans, East Lothian. It offers various services to individuals and groups in Prestonpans and the surrounding areas, which have been developed over the years based on community needs and supported by local partnerships.
They promote and provide sports, community nutrition, volunteering, youth work, and community development. They mainly target vulnerable groups and young people to create opportunities for them in the community.
The project aims to improve the community's health and well-being.
Pennypitt approached the ESES Communities Team as they had been trialling a Homework Club for local pupils. Increasingly, homework requires young people to access online resources, but not all families have a laptop, tablet, or PC. These pupils inevitably fall behind.
Teachers reported an immediate positive impact on those accessing this club; academic achievement and engagement had substantially increased in some cases.
Pennypitt did not have enough laptops.
'The Match'
Cambridge Bioscience is a UK-based distributor of life science research and diagnostic products. The University of Edinburgh is one of its customers and is keen to ensure that its suppliers invest in Edinburgh and South East Scotland.
They asked Cambridge Bioscience to review the ‘asks’ on the ESES Communities Portal and they were keen to engage, approaching the ESES Communities Team with three offers.
The ESES Communities Team introduced Lorraine Winter, Quality and Compliance Manager from Cambridge Bioscience, with Euan Stratton, Youth and Community Worker at Pennypitt Trust.
Together, they decided on two suitable devices, and Lorraine purchased the laptops and cases and had them delivered to Pennypitt.
Gabriella Mallamaci, Account Manager at Cambridge Bioscience, visited Pennypitt to meet the staff and participants and see the work in action.
When Gabriella visited, she met Lexi, who attends a local school but has recently become disengaged from her studies in certain subject areas. The school referred Lexi to Pennypitt to help her feel more enthusiastic. Lexi was making chilli with Lisa, a Community Development Worker, as part of a series of cooking exercises.
Lexi researched recipes on the computer. They then batch-cooked the food and made it available to community members.
This will lead Lexi to create a cookbook on Canva that can be printed or downloaded onto a phone. None of this would have been possible on the old, slow computers!
These laptops are more than just devices; they're opportunities for our children and young people. By providing access to technology, we're empowering disadvantaged children to develop important digital skills, use educational resources, and build confidence for their future careers. This donation directly supports our mission to bridge the digital divide and create pathways to success and development.
In line with our agreement with the University of Edinburgh, we were pleased to contribute to three projects to support the local community. We delivered the laptops to Pennypit Trust, and our colleague Gabriella visited to meet the team and understand their work. It was a pleasure to be involved in this project.