The Beckmead Trust manage a number of government funded, non-profit schools that work with children and young people identified as having social, emotional and/or mental health issues (SEMH) and/or autism and challenging behaviour. Almost all the young people are in receipt of an Education Health and Care Plan to support their additional needs. Children attending Beckmead Trust schools were experiencing emotional and cognitive damage from being away from school during the first covid-19 lockdown in the UK.

For many young people, particularly those with challenging behavioural needs, the continued school closures had already led to social and academic regression.  Many of these young people were living in poverty and families were unable to provide the equipment needed to support their learning. This proposal supported the distribution of 250 Chromebooks to partner Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) identified by Beckmead Trust. Devices were only distributed to PRUs where The Beckmead Trust were confident that the leadership and values within those organisations supported appropriate usage and safeguarding requirements for young people. The Beckmead Trust identified Pupil PRUs in Lowestoft, Manchester, Gosport, Croydon, Lewisham and Essex. This proposal funded 75% of the cost of the Chromebooks with PRUs paying the remaining 25%. The machines the became the property of the PRUs and were entered onto their inventories.