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Daily helps 5,000 school pupils in lockdown with weekly supplement

A regional daily has produced a special educational supplement aimed at helping 5,000 children in schools across its patch.

Sheffield daily The Star has teamed up with non-profit company Learn Sheffield to create a 16-page supplement, which will be distributed to 105 schools during the coronavirus lockdown.

The supplements, edited by a guest editor every week, will be available every Thursday throughout the month of May with The Star.

A volunteering team of teachers will be distributing the learning material to the most vulnerable families in Sheffield.

Sheffield learning

Editor Nancy Fielder said: “Everyone at The Star and Learn Sheffield has been overwhelmed by the support we have received for this project from schools and sponsors. People understand that the digital divide is a huge problem for thousands of young people in Sheffield and want to help.

“It is so nice for newspapers to be able to meet this demand and be able to support children who do not have sufficient internet access.

“Local newspapers have always played a role in educating their communities so I am delighted that we are doing exactly that when it is most needed during this pandemic.

“The amount of companies and individuals who have also been in touch asking how they can help The Star, as we struggle to get the paper into readers’ hands and advertising revenues remain very challenged, is also very humbling.

“I make us prouder than ever to represent Sheffield and fight for its communities.”

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