A HAMPSHIRE company has bought and donated 24 laptops to a charity that is helping children access education at home during the latest lockdown.

Vissensa has been praised for its "exceptional generosity" after rushing to the aid of MYTIME Young Carers, which provides families with support and opportunities.

Vissensa, a Minstead-based IT support and cloud services company, responded to an appeal issued by MYTIME.

The Bournemouth charity cited a growing digital divide, with many people aged five-18 lacking a device at home and struggling to keep up with their schooling.

Chief executive Krista Sharp said: “Young carers already face significant challenges in terms of their education.

“With schools expected to provide between 20 and 25 hours of online learning per week throughout this lockdown, young carers without a device are falling further and further behind.

“The attainment gap between themselves and their peers is widening.

“During the first lockdown, MYTIME was able to provide over 20 laptops to young carers across Dorset. However, we have seen an extraordinary increase in the number needed.

“We are doing our very best to meet demand.”

Vissensa responded immediately to the charity's appeal and within 24 hours had bought 24 laptops on behalf of MYTIME.

Chief executive Steve Groom said: “As a supplier of IT equipment and services to businesses across the South Coast, we have been sourcing and configuring IT for over a decade.

“Krista’s appeal for devices made us realise that this high demand for equipment wasn’t just affecting businesses.

"It was also impacting charities like MYTIME who couldn’t source crucial equipment for young carers.

“Thankfully, we were in the position to utilise our extensive supply chain to find laptops we could donate, so we did.

“I’m really pleased all the pieces of the jigsaw came together so quickly.”

Sam Nunn, the company's chief commercial officer, added: "All of us here at Vissensa are proud to be supporting a local charity who have been doing an outstanding job for the community since the pandemic began.

"It has been a difficult year for everyone.

"But the volunteers and staff at MYTIME Young Carers continue to instil faith that by collectively coming together, we will get through this.

"We hope the donation of laptops will help ensure young carers are able to continue their education during these difficult times.”

Matthew Barker, chairman of the charity's board of trustees, said: “We are so grateful to Steve Groom and his team at Vissensa for their exceptional generosity.

“It is absolutely critical that young carers are able to access their education."