Research from the Digital Poverty Alliance and Currys suggests that providing laptops to digitally excluded families can improve children’s motivation, confidence and educational aspirations, while helping households access employment and training opportunities.
Almost a third of parents (29%) say their children have become more interested in attending college after receiving a laptop, according to research from the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) and Currys.
The findings also show that 65% of parents reported increased motivation among their children to complete schoolwork, while 68% observed improvements in their overall confidence.
The results are included in the Aspiration and Digital Inclusion report, published by the DPA and funded by Currys, which surveyed teachers and families participating in the Tech4Families programme.
The initiative provides laptops to families experiencing digital exclusion, helping children access educational resources and develop skills that could support their future employment prospects.
The research comes amid concerns about the number of young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
According to figures cited in Alan Milburn’s review of young people and work, nearly one million young people fall into this category, while youth unemployment exceeds 15%.
The report highlights the potential role of access to technology in improving educational engagement and helping young people prepare for further education, apprenticeships and employment.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, said: “There are millions of children across the UK at a severe disadvantage, not just in education but in future job prospects, all because they do not have access to a laptop. Many of us take having a device for granted, but the reality is we’d feel lost without one. That’s what these children and families are facing each day, holding them back in school and their ability to apply for further education and work, which in turn impacts the job market and wider economy. Every child in the UK should have access to a keyboarded device, and that will require the government to launch a national digital schools census to understand the extent of the issue and reach the families most in need.”
Beyond improvements in schoolwork and educational motivation, the research found that laptop access helped children develop practical digital skills.
More than two-thirds of parents (69%) reported that their children had learnt skills beyond those required for school, including activities associated with applying for apprenticeships and work experience.
The proportion of children able to set up an email account increased from 28% to 57%, while the proportion able to attach documents to emails rose from 29% to 59%.
These skills are increasingly important as applications for education, training and employment are commonly completed through digital platforms.
The findings also suggest that providing a laptop to a child can benefit other members of the household.
Two-thirds of parents reported that family members were using the devices for work-related activities and job hunting.
Meanwhile, 69% said access to a laptop had changed how other family members viewed their own futures, with parents updating CVs, applying for jobs and enrolling on educational courses.
In almost one in five households where the laptop was shared, another family member had used it to search for employment.
The research suggests that initiatives addressing digital exclusion could therefore have benefits extending beyond children’s immediate educational needs.
By improving access to digital services, devices can help families participate in activities that increasingly require online connectivity and basic technology skills.
Moira Thomas, Group Sustainability & ESG Director at Currys, said: “Today’s findings should be a wake-up call to us all. Too many young people across the UK are being held back by digital poverty, missing out on opportunities that many of us take for granted. At Currys, we want everyone to have equal access to the benefits of technology, especially when it is the gateway to education, employment, essential services and social connection. As this report reveals, access to tech doesn’t just help people get online – it can build confidence, raise aspirations and unlock opportunities. If we don’t act now, we risk leaving a generation behind.”
The DPA is calling for a national digital schools census to establish the scale of digital exclusion and identify families requiring additional support.
The organisation argues that ensuring children have access to appropriate devices could help improve educational participation, strengthen digital skills and create more opportunities for young people entering further education and employment.
