Stone picks up Comet charity mantle
System builder throws lifeline to honour Family Fund grants and supply disabled and sick kids with tablet devices
System builder Stone Group has stepped into the gap left by Comet to supply low-income families with charity-funded tablet PCs for their disabled and ill children.
Known as Family Fund, the charity provides grants for low-income families with disabled and sick children to get tablet devices. It has helped more than 59,000 families to date and a further 800 families are believed to be on the waiting list.
The well-documented demise of Comet caused one Devon-based family distress when their six-year old with cerebral palsy was denied an iPad as Comet could not honour a grant, and the retailer revealed it was unable to continue working with the charity, leaving it with the task of finding an alternative provider.
Comet has since agreed for existing Family Fund grant gift cards to be honoured in its stores, but in future the grants will be fulfilled by Stone Group.
Cheryl Ward, chief executive of Family Fund, said: "With a large number of applications coming through to us each week, we needed a reliable and fast supplier to partner with us.
"Stone has delivered more than 2,000 technology packages for us so far this year already, so we know their team understands the needs of our families and will not let us down. Responding so promptly to this situation means that families raising disabled or seriously ill children across the UK will receive their much-needed tablet without delay.”
David Berks, supply director at Stone Group, said: “We want applicants waiting to hear back from Family Fund to know that they do not have to worry about the situation with Comet.
“For now, and the near future, if you apply for a Family Fund grant, and are successful, your computers will come from Stone, and will be supported by our customer service and extensive warranties.”
Applicants for Family Fund grants – both those awarded and those in progress – should call 08448 221 22 for further information.