Grant helps to tackle bed poverty
The Summit Base Camp, part of the Summit Learning Trust, has received a donation to support more beds for children and young people.
The Richardson Brothers Foundation, which supports a range of national, regional and local causes, has granted the education trust more than £2,300 to buy beds for children and young people within Summit Learning Trust who are most in need of one.
Summit Learning Trust, works to ensure every child or young person who attends one of their academies have their basic needs met through the Summit Base Camp offer.
The aim of the offer is to enable all learners the platform needed to develop skills for their future and achieve exceptional outcomes despite any challenges they face.
One element that the Summit Base Camp strives to tackle bed poverty. Their work across Birmingham and Solihull has now benefited greatly thanks to a generous donation from the Richardson Brothers Foundation.
The Summit Base Camp is an initiative from the Summit Learning Trust which supports vulnerable children, young people and families through the current cost of living crisis and beyond.
Speaking on behalf of the Richardson Brothers Foundation, Paul Faulkner, chief of staff for the Richardson family business, said: “It is shocking that in 2023 there are many children living across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands who do not have a bed to sleep in at night.
“This impacts their physical and mental well-being and ultimately has a detrimental effect on their ability to learn and perform to the best of their ability at school.
“The Richardson Brothers Foundation received a very compelling application from the Summit Education Trust to support their Summit Base Camp campaign that is working to tackle the issue of bed poverty and was delighted to make this contribution that will hopefully have a directly beneficial impact on the lives of local children.
“The Foundation also hopes that this helps in a small way to raise awareness around the issue of bed poverty in the region and encourages additional support for the great work that Summit Learning Trust are doing with this issue.”
According to research from End Furniture Poverty, nearly a third (30 per cent) of families in the UK are impacted by bed poverty - which means they don't have a comfortable bed to sleep in.
Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust said: “Our Summit Base Camp is a crucial element of our offer. Our Trust mission to deliver exceptional education to children and young people in Birmingham and Solihull to enable them to have successful, happy lives and make a positive impact on their communities, is underpinned by us working to ensure that all basic needs are met.”
“This amazing gesture by the Richardson Brothers Foundation is very much appreciated by our Summit family, and will support many children and young people to enable them to have a comfortable bed to sleep in. Huge thanks to the Foundation for their donation and for raising awareness around bed poverty issues.”
Pictured: Paul Faulkner and Vince Green
