A POOLE man who fixed more than 600 faulty computers and gave them to children to help them keep studying in Covid has won a BBC award for his efforts. 

Rob Franks was recognised with a BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference Award at Leonardo Royal Grand Hotel in Southampton on September 24 for his efforts to keep children educated during the Covid lockdowns.

First fixing laptops in 2021, Rob explained that originally all the devices he fixed were donated by he worked with a company to crowdfund over £10,000 so he could buy computers to fix.

He said: "My wife Carla is a teacher and over lockdown, she was telling me how kids can't physically learn without a laptop at home because they don't have one and parents can't afford one. 

"It opened my mind a little bit and I thought there's got to be something we can do to help. I would get laptops in, I would refurbish them, make them like me and then give out to disadvantaged children and those with special education needs."

Now three years from when he first started, Rob still runs the operation but on a smaller scale struggling now to find stock. 

Although proud of his BBC award, it comes as one of several recognitions that he has been given which includes a British Empire Medal he was awarded in May.

"I was told back in the beginning of September that I've been put through to the final," Rob added.

"I went yesterday with no expectations because there were some absolutely fantastic people in there. When my name got called out, I couldn't believe it.

"I literally went there to help celebrate those that were going to win and those that were nominated. I still can't comprehend being compared to some of the people who didn't win."

Rob expressed that he is passionate about helping SEND children and is disabled himself after his leg was amputated in 2018.

Rob is adamant that "the children to have the same opportunities that mainstream children get" and believed the main frustrations towards SEND at this time are the waiting times of ECHPs.