Dixons Carphone is giving £1 million to support disadvantaged pupils, parents and teachers as “digital poverty” continues to be exposed during the pandemic.

The owner of the Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse brands is working with The Learning Foundation to support the charity’s Digital Access For All (DAFA) programme to support digital learning.

The money will equip 1,000 teachers and teaching assistants with the technology and help they need to deliver “high quality home schooling” to 30,000 disadvantaged pupils during the pandemic “and beyond”, said Dixons Carphone.

The retailer will also become a founding partner in the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA), a group of organisations brought together by DAFA and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, to tackle digital poverty in the UK.

Dixons Carphone will bring its expertise in areas such as trade-in, repair, recycling and services, as well as utilise its national distribution and retail network to help the Alliance widen its reach.

Alex Baldock, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said: “We’re already helping thousands of older people to digitally connect through our partnership with Age UK and now we’re stepping up to tackle the digital divide in education.

“Supporting teachers is our first priority as part of this pledge, as many are struggling with getting the most out of technology and remote learning.”

Paul Finnis, CEO of The Learning Foundation, said: “In our 20-year history of working with schools and technology we've learned how to develop innovative solutions to address the digital discrepancy that exists at home for millions of people.

“With the pandemic having only exacerbated this divide, having a specialist retailer with the expertise, size and scale of Dixons Carphone will be game changing.”

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