Vital £50k donation to tackle 'tech ' poverty in schools

Birmingham-based education charity, Titan Partnership, is on a mission to raise £200,000 to tackle digital poverty in schools - and has been handed a huge lifeline by a financial services specialist.

Wesleyan has donated a further £50,000 to the Titan Partnership 's campaign to help ensure that children across its network of schools have access to devices for online learning during and beyond the pandemic.

The Computers for Children campaign was launched in April 2020 following a study that revealed more than 700 hundred children in some of Birmingham 's most deprived areas did not have access to suitable devices or the internet at home.

Titan then pledged to raise £200,000 to provide around 1,000 devices.

Titan Partnership CEO Carolyn Chapman-Lees (pictured) said: "The coronavirus crisis continues to highlight the invisible barrier to learning caused by digital poverty, which is seeing children without equipment unable to complete schoolwork and leaving them behind in their education.

"Wesleyan 's continued support comes at a pivotal time as teachers and pupils adapt to new ways of working. This has made a big difference to many children. I am delighted that, with Wesleyan 's ongoing support, we will continue to provide devices for children and families most in need."

The donation from Wesleyan is its second to the charity in the last 12 months as part of a wider £1m 'mutual support package ' to be shared across charities and community groups throughout 2021.

Mario Mazzocchi, Wesleyan group chief executive, said: “In addition to the financial advice we offer, our mutuality means we can invest in helping the professions we serve in other ways and as we enter our 180th year, it has never been more important to do so.

“Our package of support is intended to focus on areas in urgent need of help such as digital poverty within schools. We hope that the support we can offer will help to ease some of the pressures brought on by Covid-19."

The Computers for Children campaign works independently of measures by the Government to provide laptops and focuses on all age groups across primary and secondary schools in the Titan network.

To make a donation, click here.

To discuss donations for new or refurbished computers and corporate donations, please contact Titan Partnership Project Co-ordinator Mark Hill at [email protected]

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Titan Partnership, please contact [email protected]