Strabane Controlled Primary School, strabane, Co Tyrone
 

Tech4Youth - laptops for young people in Northern Ireland

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8th Jan 2026

We would like to let you know of an opportunity to request a laptop for young people child if families cannot afford one. The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) is a charity running the Tech4Youth Programme, providing a free laptop to keep, and support with digital skills.

Applying is simple. The family need to complete the form, which will ask a few basic questions to determine eligibility, and then a trusted community member – such as a doctor, social worker, or health worker, who is unrelated to the young person – will need to confirm that the family/young person would benefit from receiving a laptop. This process helps ensure that support reaches those who need it most.  Families can apply for a laptop for an 11–16 year-old in their family, and will need to list a verifier who is one of the following:

  • Health and social care worker, including GPs
  • Social worker
  • School nurse
  • Family support worker, either in your local authority or in a charity

Applications are open, but spaces are limited. More details, and the online application form can be found here. The paper application form can be printed off and sent to us by post, or send a photo to tech4youth@digitalpovertyalliance.org. Alternatively, text 07984 445476 with the keyword T4Y, your name, street address, and postcode to request a paper application form by post. This programme has a limited number of places, and applicants are encouraged to apply and ensure their verification happens as soon as possible. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, once verified. Once this programme has reached capacity, the application form will be closed.

If the above requirements do not cover a family, or if they do not have a verifier listed here, please consider applying to our Tech4Families programme, which can support families in Northern Ireland with children between 4-16 years old. More verifiers are also listed in the terms and conditions, and can include e.g. teachers, councillors, and librarians.