Livery Schools Link has launched a fundraising campaign to help buy devices and connections for the most disadvantaged students in schools who are suffering device poverty.
Working in partnership with Livery Companies, Guilds, local businesses and schools, the campaign is not just a response to help for the time of Covid. As David Barker, an Internet and social entrepreneur and one of the Livery Schools Link Trustees, commented “The issue of device poverty has existed for a long time and Covid has simply shone a light and shown the world the scale of the issue and its’ impact on the future education of the disadvantaged and vulnerable”.
“Our campaign is to help those students we can while long-term permanent solutions are identified and implemented”
The campaign has already attracted over £45,000 in donations, enabling Livery Schools Link to already provide funds to buy devices and connections for disadvantaged students at 14 schools, including Notre Dame RC Girls’ School and La Retraite RC Girls’ School:
“We have been able to provide 26 laptops and 8 dongles with prepayment for students. Education is a ladder to success for many students and this enables them to continue with their school work and give them a better foundation for the future.”
Teresa Crowley, Careers Leader at Notre Dame School
“We have been able to provide 27 students with laptops, so they are able to access their education. These donations will change the children’s lives and open up opportunities for their future!”
Ruth Coyle, Director of Learning at La Retraite RC Girls’ School
Maureen Marden, one of the Livery Schools Link trustees who has also championed the campaign, is clear that a transparent and accountable structure is important “we are agreed that our grant to schools will be limited to £5.000 to help provide connections/devices to the most disadvantaged students. Funds will be granted against a proposal from the school to the trustees. We have agreed a series of simple points of accountability and outcomes.”
As well as receiving donations from Livery Companies, Guilds and local businesses, Livery Schools Link has also created a campaign on Virgin Money giving so that individuals can donate as well. “For every £5K we raise, we will immediately ensure this is allocated to a school to help the most disadvantaged students.”
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