ONE of Basingstoke’s leading hi-tech communications companies has started 2010 on a positive note by helping schoolchildren to get to grips with the digital age.

Motorola which employs about 880 people between its Jays Close base on the Viables Industrial Estate and at its Redwood site, at Chineham Park, in Basingstoke – and the communication giant’s philanthropic arm, the Motorola Foundation, have chosen the e-Learning Foundation as its UK charity of choice for the next three years.

Tasked with helping deprived children to embrace the digital age, the e-Learning Foundation is the only national education charity that actively campaigns to help ensure underprivileged children have home access to online learning technologies.

Motorola chairman Graeme Hobbs (right), who is based at the company’s offices in Jays Close, said: “Motorola is very pleased to be supporting the e-Learning Foundation.

“This organisation works tirelessly to make sure that the 1.5 million UK schoolchildren who do not currently have access to a comput er at home, get the support they need in our increasingly digital world.”

Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Foundation, added: “Education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths, is something Motorola employees are extremely passionate about, and we feel that we can contribute not just by fundraising, but also by giving our time and expertise.”

In addition to supporting e-Learning through grants from the global Motorola Foundation, the company’s employees plan to get involved in many other ways.

These include fundraisers for schools in the Basingstoke area and the communities around Motorola’s offices in Swindon and Ashburton, providing professional advice on IT solutions for schools as well as advising on e-safety programmes and software for home learning.

Valerie Thompson, chief executive of the |

e-Learning Foundation, said: “We are really excited to have the opportunity to work with Motorola over the next three years.

“There are many ways in which staff can get involved in helping us overcome the digi tal divide in the UK, and we look forward to developing a successful relationship.”

In addition to working with the e-Learning Foundation, other goals include providing a free advisory and support service to help schools develop the most appropriate strategy to achieve high levels of home IT access.

Motorola will also act a fundraiser and grant provider to help schools develop their own sustainable sources of income.