Thousands of pounds has been pledged by a parish council to help children and struggling families with the cost of food and online education.

Stone Parish Council has awarded £3,500 to local organisations assisting those hit hardest during the pandemic.

It awarded £500 to the YMCA of Thames Gateway, based in Overy Street in Dartford, which supports more than 250 families who use their nurseries and after-school clubs as well as other vulnerable members of the community.

Over Christmas, hampers were delivered to vulnerable families across the Dartford area and this funding will help them to continue delivering essential items.

The council also awarded £500 to the Stone Lodge School PTA which is fundraising and exploring ways to assist children, including setting up a hardship fund for those affected by Covid-19.

This funding will help buy essential school equipment and clothing for those who have been financially affected.

Continuing efforts are also being made to help youngsters without access to IT equipment, while the majority are restricted to remote home learning.

Brent Primary School currently only has 18 laptops to support 585 pupils and will receive £2,500 to help them get pupils back online.

The school plans to use this to purchase 96 laptops and two Chromebooks to support children with additional needs.

If anyone has computers, laptops or tablets they are not using, they are asked to consider donating these to one of the schools in the area.

To donate to Stone St Mary’s Primary School, drop off to the school directly in Hayes Road, Stone. Use the postcode DA9 9EF in your sat nav.

The Dartford Deeds Not Words Foundation is also collecting for schools in the area and can be contacted via dartforddeedsnotwords@gmail.com

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