SERC Take Part in ‘Connecting You’ Device Scheme

IT students from South Eastern Regional College (@S_ERC) are helping prepare 80 tablets, as part of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s (LCCC) ‘Connecting You’ device scheme. The devices will be distributed to people in the local community who require internet connection during periods of lockdown.

‘Connecting You’ has been designed by LCCC and funded by the Department for Communities as part of its COVID-19 support programme. The aim of the scheme is to help provide devices with internet connection for people in the local community that need support to connect with people online and help with continuing their education.

Paula Kirkwood, SERC Lecturer in Computing, comments, “A mixture of our Further and Higher Education students, from Level 2 Higher National Diploma and Foundation Degree IT programmes have been involved in prepping 80 devices which LCCC will be distributing to communities in Lisburn and Castlereagh areas, where there is a need for devices with internet connection for study and work.

“Our Further Education students and members of our student companies have been involved in the configuration and preparation of the devices so they are immediately ready for use to meet the anticipated needs of recipients. Our student companies, FixIT and eSerc, will also offer ongoing support, if required, following distribution by LCCC.”

Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure & Community Development Chairman at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, said: “On behalf of the Council I would like to thank the students and lecturers at SERC for their support to prepare these 80 devices for our residents. Along with our partners we will be assessing the applications received to distribute them evenly across the whole council area. We want to help those most in need to connect with others or continue their education through the provision of these devices.”

To find out more about the scheme, click here, make sure to apply before 12 noon on 17th May.