Virgin Media
“Home Access for Learning”
"Virgin Media is excited about its new partnership with the e-Learning Foundation. Getting broadband into the homes of low-income families can help children, and their families, improve their education and better equip themselves for their future in the digital world."
Stuart Poore, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Virgin Media
In 2008 Virgin Media and the e-Learning Foundation launched an exciting joint project called ‘Home Access for Learning’. Virgin Media provided the Foundation with the funds to manage the project which offered a free 10mb, cable broadband connection to the Internet to 1,000 low income families in five cities; Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham and Newcastle upon Tyne. The offer was put to families whose children were eligible for Free School Meals and who were able to take a computer home through the e-learning project at their school.
Children have been using the Internet to log onto their school Virtual Learning Environment, do their homework and contact their teachers. Parents have been able to find out what their children have been doing at school and support their children’s learning.
We are also delighted to add that the project has gone so well Virgin Media has extended the families accounts for another year.
A project beneficiary, Shemia, pictured with Jim Knight –former minister of state for schools and learners, Valerie Thompson - e-Learning Foundation Chief Executive and Paul Richmond, Virgin Media Director, Corporate Affairs and Media