A new campaign in Birmingham is aiming to give free laptops and wifi to kids who can't afford their own.
Birmingham's Child Poverty Action Forum(CPAF) is working with nearby associations to help support young pupils achieve their full potential. The CPAF alongside their respective partners have launched the Connect_in campaign to help 1,000 families who are less fortunate .
Birmingham Education Partnership (BEP) will contact schools on behalf of The CPAF to ensure that most disadvantaged families are receiving the help they need. Social Enterprise Repc Ltc will donate refurbished laptops to young people with access to a stable internet connection, courtesy of Wow Dot CIC and their service.
Joining on board The CPAF, Qasim Masjid, instigated the idea of providing young pupils with digital devices and web availability, as a way to assist them with their school work and commitment. For the benefit of this campaign, Masjid has enabled partnerships and introductions while keeping The CPAF in check.
Qasim Masjid comments: "The issue of digital poverty has been present for longer than any pandemic; however lockdown has certainly painted a deeply saddening picture of what the future of these young people could potentially look like".
"In light of this, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with The Child Poverty Action Forum and offer support where I can", he said.
According to recent reports, 34% of the Uk population has suffered from a complete loss of connectivity. Research has claimed that over a third of working class parents cannot afford to supply their children with a computer or tablet to access the internet from home. The impacts of these reports are having a negative effect on academic development, mental health; and in many cases physical well-being. The CPAF campaign and partners are keen to support and address an issue that is having a major impact on future generations.
To learn more or contribute towards The Child Poverty Action Forum,
Contact the following:
Qasim Masjid: Qasim@wow-group.co.uk
Mobile: 07949 482518 Twitter @wowdotcic
www.wow-group.co.uk/wowdot
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