A south-west London charity has fundraised over £30k to provide new laptops for students who have been hit by school closures during the pandemic.

The HMCK Charity launched its crowdfunding campaign 'Transforming Life Chances' to support remote learning in unprecedented times.

The charity was set up in memory of King's College teacher, Heather McKissack, who sadly died from cancer in 2018.

Heather helped establish the Wimbledon partnership between King's College and eight nearby state schools to help young people reach their potential.

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Under the charity's new campaign, four schools in the partnership identified more than 300 pupils who would benefit most from laptops. They are; Ricards Lodge High School, Raynes Park High School and Harris Academy Wimbledon and Grey Court School in Richmond. 

A spokesperson from the crowdfunding page said: "Like never before, the Covid-19 crisis has focused attention on the needs of children whose levels of achievement are suffering because they come from less fortunate backgrounds.

"Covid-19 has created an urgent need for online access for all students in the coming months.

"If the laptop campaign is successful, we hope to extend it to the other schools in the Wimbledon Partnership: Coombe Girls’ School, Coombe Boy’s School, St Mark’s Academy and Ursuline School, all in South West London."

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Andrew Halls, Head Master of King’s College School said: “Heather McKissack was one of those teachers who made everyone feel they could touch the stars.

"This campaign to help pupils achieve their potential by giving them the technology they need to stay in contact with their schools is exactly the sort of initiative she would have supported with the passion for fairness that marked out everything she did.”

The charity hopes to reach their £40,000 goal so they can extend the project.

If you would like to donate visit at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-tlc-campaign.