A POOLE man who helped give laptops to disadvantaged children during lockdown so they could continue their education has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

Rob Franks has been awarded the medal for services to young people and to the community in Poole, on the King’s Birthday Honours List.

The 45-year-old said he was ‘humbled’ to be nominated, let alone receiving the medal, adding that it was ‘mind blowing’.

“With lockdown happening, there was a lot of children from disadvantaged backgrounds whose parents couldn't afford to buy them laptops to learn at home,” Rob said.

“I thought, they're going to be so behind so I put a little plea out on Facebook saying if anyone's got an old laptop, whether it works or not, I'll refurbish it and I'll then give it out to a child in need, thinking I might get one or two people who want to send something.

“It just went loopy.

“In the end I raised £10,000 to buy laptops and then gave out nearly 600.

“Just seeing the happiness and joy of the children and parents.

“The parents seeing that their children can actually continue to learn whilst not being able to was enough.

“It was mind blowing how much it affected not only their journey to learning, but it affected me a bit as well because it was like, I'm actually doing good in the community.”

Rob said he was scared to open the letter from the Cabinet Office when it arrived and said that the hardest part since receiving it has been keeping it secret.

“You hear so many other people receiving very deserving gongs, but just to be even nominated would have been enough,” he said. “But to be awarded something is just unreal.

“This award, if it wasn't for the generosity of people, it's the general public who gave laptops, donated money, shared the campaign, because it literally went crazy.

“They're the real ones that should get something. I just started the campaign.”

Rob is also an amputee and a skilled cricketer, representing England Disability Cricket.

He also raises funds for the Youth Cancer Trust.