We help families overcome the costs of education so all children in Luton have the chance to learn.
When money is tight at home, a child might not have the uniform and equipment they need for school. They are unlikely to be able to do fun things in the school holidays and they are more likely to suffer with mental health problems and low self esteem. They can be embarrassed about making friends because they feel ‘different’ and they can experience hopelessness about the future.
In any one school day a child experiencing poverty could:
- Get cold and wet on their walk to school because they don’t have a winter coat.
- Stop playing in the playground with their friends at break-time because their shoes are too tight and hurt their feet.
- Feel embarrassed that their school uniform is too tight and short in the arms.
- Miss out on playing sports because they don’t have a P.E. kit.
- Dread the school holidays because home may not be a safe place.
- Worry that there will not be enough food for them over the school holidays.
Almost 50% of children in Luton live in poverty – that’s over 26,600 children.
If Luton is going to provide the best childhood possible for all our children, this needs to change.
We help children aged 3-16 by providing vouchers for school shoes and coats, running a Uniform Exchange ‘swap shop’ in The Mall, giving out laptops full of the things children need for homework, and running a summer school packed with exciting and enriching experiences.
Our work makes children feel more included, more confident, and enables them to attend school more – which all adds up to a brighter future.
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