Tech4Takeoff backs students lacking device access

The Digital Poverty Alliance and easyJet have launched Tech4Takeoff, a programme designed to provide iPads to young people aged 11 to 19 who need better access to technology outside the classroom.

Applications opened on 21 May, and the first phase is prioritising communities near easyJet’s UK bases in Luton, Gatwick, and Newcastle. Around 500 iPads previously used by the airline’s crew and flight-deck teams will be redistributed through the scheme, which is intended to support students whose schoolwork increasingly depends on having a suitable device at home.

That pressure now runs through much of the school week rather than sitting at its edge. Homework, revision, research, digital learning platforms, and applications often require reliable access to a personal device outside lesson time, and when that access is missing or shared, the workload itself does not shrink.

The release points to a wider national gap. Across the UK, one in five children lack the devices, skills, or connectivity needed to navigate the digital world, while research commissioned by easyJet found that 77% of parents surveyed believe limited access to technology reduces children’s learning opportunities and 93% believe access to technology improves a child’s ability to learn.

Cost remains a significant barrier for many households. Nearly half of parents surveyed said they worry about not being able to provide enough access to support their children’s education, and 41% cited the cost of laptops, tablets, and other technology as an obstacle.

The iPads being donated through Tech4Takeoff were previously used by easyJet’s crew and flight-deck teams. Under the partnership, those devices will now be redirected to students in communities where access remains uneven. easyJet has also signed the Digital Poverty Alliance’s Charter for Digital Inclusion and said it intends to continue donating iPads through future renewal cycles.

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO, Digital Poverty Alliance, described Tech4Takeoff as a practical way to narrow the gap between what education expects and what too many students can access. “Students should not be held back because the technology they need for learning is out of reach. Through this partnership with easyJet, we can help place iPads with young people who need better access to technology for school, while also showing how businesses can make device donation part of a longer-term commitment to digital inclusion.”

The programme gives companies a route to redirect used workplace technology into education support while extending the life of devices that would otherwise be retired from frontline use. Applications for Tech4Takeoff are available here.