I'm joining Team Luton Lions on the 19th December for a winter  virtual run from School to School to support disadvantaged children in Luton. We’ll be running approximately 20 miles covering Luton secondary schools. 

In Luton, 46% of young people live in poverty. Poverty means young people do not have all the equipment they need for learning from home, including a digital device or WiFi connection. Luton has also been hit by the highest job losses in England since lockdown, primarily as a result of Luton airport flights being grounded. 6,560 people putting in new claims for unemployment benefits from March to May this year - the largest increase in the country!

The government scheme to provide digital access will only supply devices to Year 10 students who are entitled to a free school meal. There is no provision for students in other year groups, or for young people who live in poverty but do not get a free school meal. 

Without a device to work on at home, young people fall behind in their studies and miss out on developing key skills. This causes young people to worry because they know that they do not have what they need to fully participate in their studies, leaving them to feel more uncertain than ever about their future.

Even though schools have reopened, they have shifted to digital media as their primary channel of resource sharing as a result of Covid-19, and this will continue even as schools reopen.

Luton Learning Link has been set up by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Local Education Service, Luton Mosques and Level Trust charity to provide devices to local young people who are in desperate need of one. The joint initiative sources and refurbishes devices for loan to any schools in need.

Almost every school in Luton has expressed the need for additional laptop devices which they will manage for households in need. Luton Mosques, Discover Islam and Inspire FM are working together to reach a target of 200 laptops, costing £220 each.