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OnSwitch urges vets to donate unwanted laptops to support home learning
"Your old laptop could make a world of difference to someone's future opportunities." - Alison Lambert, OnSwitch.

Devices will help millions of children struggling at home

Veterinary business consultancy OnSwitch has joined the countrywide appeal for donations of unwanted laptops and tablets, to help the millions of children learning from home in the UK right now.

Many children are currently using smartphones to access their schoolwork. These devices, while useful, are largely unsuitable for completing all the tasks required as part of the remote learning provision being provided by teachers.

A large number of children are also having to share devices with siblings or even other adults living in their household who are working from home. This limits the amount of time a pupil can dedicate to their learning.

Onswitch’s founder Alison Lambert said: "Like a lot of businesses, at Onswitch HQ we have a cupboard where unwanted technology is stored ‘just in case’ – too good to throw away, but no longer needed.

“Looking through it recently, we found 20 laptops, tablets and PCs that we’re not using now that our team are all working from home.

“We’ve given them to our local parish council to distribute to households in need of practical home schooling support, and I’d urge all my colleagues across the veterinary sector to check whether their practices can do the same. Your old laptop could make the world of difference to someone’s future opportunities."

The BBC has created a list of national and local organisations coordinating donations of devices here.

Some charities will be able to collect, wipe and distribute the devices themselves, while others are collecting monetary donations to go towards buying devices for pupils.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.