London, 19th November 2024 – The East End Community Foundation (EECF) is excited to announce the expansion of its successful multi-sector partnership, the Connecting Communities programme, into secondary schools, beginning with Year 7 pupils in Tower Hamlets.
Building on the programme’s success in supporting 711 primary school pupils across the borough, this new pilot initiative aims to extend the programme’s reach to secondary school students, helping them access essential technology and thrive in today’s digital world.
In partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), approximately 275 devices have been gifted to the Connecting Communities programme through LBTH’s social value contract with BT. These devices will be provided to Year 7 families, which aligns with LBTH’s ambition to equip Year 7 pupils with a device when they start secondary school. The pilot will initially support families in five secondary schools across Tower Hamlets before Christmas, including Swanlea, Langdon Park, George Green’s, Oaklands, and Bow, ensuring that students are able to access the digital tools they need for their education.
The launch at Swanlea Secondary School will see up to 70 families receive digital packages, marking the first stage of the pilot expansion. These families will receive brand new laptops, broadband access, and a comprehensive seven-step IT training programme, this will help students engage with digital learning platforms, access online resources, and develop the vital digital skills necessary for their academic journey and future careers.
EECF Chief Executive and Chair of the Connecting Communities partnership, Tracey Walsh, said: “We are happy to expand the Connecting Communities programme into secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Having already supported over 700 primary school pupils in the borough, this pilot enables us to support Year 7 students, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in this increasingly digital world.”
Dep Mayor Cllr Maium Talukdar, Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning said: “We are delighted to support the expansion of Connecting Communities into secondary schools. By providing Year 7 pupils with the digital resources they need, we are ensuring that our young people have the greatest opportunity to succeed in their education, regardless of their background.”
Taner Mustafa, Social Value Process Lead from BT said: “BT is honoured to be supporting a project which will change the lives of hundreds of young people in Tower Hamlets. Education is a powerful tool to create future leaders and through the work of the Connecting Communities project we are excited to see the impact this will make in the borough where we are based”
The expansion of the Connecting Communities programme into secondary schools represents a key step in the initiative’s ongoing mission to tackle digital inequality in the East End. With continued collaboration between partners like BT and Tower Hamlets Council, the programme will continue to make a lasting impact on students’ educational opportunities across the borough.
Find out more about Connecting Communities click here.
Donate to our Life Chances campaign today click here.
wordpress theme by initheme.com
