Supporting vulnerable young people to access learning

by Jan 15, 2021Awareness Raising, Campaigning, Digital poverty, News, Youth engagement

The City & Guilds Foundation is acutely aware of the challenges facing learners at all levels across the UK, including the many learners who receive support from our charitable partners or directly through the Foundation’s bursary programme. 

We applaud efforts being made by the UK Government and charities across the country to make the hardware necessary for online learning available to those in need, this support must continue to be rolled out with utmost urgency if we are to limit the impact of the pandemic on the estimated 1.14 million-1.78 million children in the UK (9%) who do not have home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet to learn. 

We would also like to thank the telecoms providers who have already pledged their support to help remove the data barriers facing many young people through voucher schemes and the exploration of making some free online learning sites available without data charges. This will be critical if 880,000 children who only have access to mobile internet connections are to be able to access the growing wealth of online resources available. 

The City & Guilds Foundation has a critical role to play and we will be making every effort over the coming weeks to ensure that the beneficiaries we support are not limited by lack of access to technology and that we remain in active dialogue with our network of charitable partners and youth advisory board to ensure they receive the support they need. 

We will also be sharing a list of free online resources across our networks. If you are the owner of free e-learning materials and would like us to include them in our resources centre, please get in touch. 

For further information about existing provision available to trusts, local authorities, schools who wish to support a young person to access laptops, tablets or mobile data to support their learning please visit:  https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/about-increasing-mobile-data 

Want to be kept up to date?

Sign up to City & Guilds Foundation email alerts and newsletter

Previous posts

How Catch22 is supporting individuals into entry-level green sector roles

We know that the cost of training can be a huge obstacle to accessing the skills needed to get into work. This makes it even more challenging to those already facing barriers in society. That’s why over 20 years ago we established our bursary programme: to support...

Funding four exceptional craftspeople through Heritage Crafts bursary

We are delighted to announce funding for four exceptional craftspeople through the Heritage Crafts bursary scheme. The City & Guilds Foundation provides up to £4,000 per person to support heritage crafts trainees whose talent might otherwise be lost to the sector...

Fellowship in the City event: Paving the way for those looking to progress in engineering

Over 145 years ago, City & Guilds was founded by Livery Companies with royal patronage, and ever since has celebrated and valued that relationship. On Monday 02 September, at Mansion House in London, we brought together two of our oldest friends, the City of...

Princess Royal Training Awards class of 2024 receive royal recognition for tremendous training and incredible impact

City & Guilds has today announced the 52 training programmes that will be recognised by the 2024 Princess Royal Training Awards. Now in its ninth year, The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to recognise organisations who demonstrate exceptional commitment to learning and development, and is now established as a prestigious and sought-after accolade in this field. With skills training increasingly cited as a key to improving productivity challenges within the economy, creating learning programmes to develop new and existing workforce talent is now more important than ever.

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Fostering Neuroinclusive Workplaces with Kirstie Donnelly MBE and Prof. Amanda Kirby

What if recognising subtle signs of struggle at work could revolutionise your team's productivity and well-being? In this insightful episode of the Foundation & Friends podcast, City & Guilds Chief Executive, Kirstie Donnelly MBE, sits down with Professor...

The Commonwealth Heritage Forum and City & Guilds of London Art School are pleased to offer Introduction to Global Conservation: Commonwealth Summer School

City & Guilds of London Art School is delighted to be partnering with Commonwealth Heritage Forum to host a two-week Introduction to Global Conservation summer school. The summer school will bring together 24 participants working in restoration and construction...

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Transforming Futures Of Young People with Faiza Khan MBE

Young people now face unprecedented challenges, including financial worries, employment and climate concerns - with implications for a new generation’s mental health, and the health of the UK economy. In this Foundation & Friends podcast, host and Executive...

Rhi Christie makes waves with winning entry at Pewter Live design competition

Rhi Christie, from Cardiff, is celebrating winning the City & Guilds Learner Prize at this year’s Pewter Live, an annual European Design Competition which promotes the use of pewter and innovation in design. Each year, this important event is supported by City...

Green Start: A transformative programme continuing to empower ex-offenders from Groundwork

Last year, we reported on the inspiring work being carried out by Groundwork, a UK-wide alliance of charities that brings communities together to tackle poverty and environmental challenges. Committed to creating opportunities for all, they launched their Green Start...

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Unlocking Hidden Refugee Talent with Jessica Ridgewell from Breaking Barriers

How employers can harness the potential of refugee candidates While many UK employers will be aware of the social value associated with supporting refugees, not all will be aware of how best to harness the talent and experience that refugees can bring to the...

Podcast episodes

Foundation & Friends Podcast (2024-)

​Green Skills Podcast in collaboration with Green Edge (2024-)

Hosted by Dr. Michael Cross and Fraser Harper, this podcast series explores the critical transition towards a sustainable planet and the pivotal role of green skills in shaping the economy.

Listen now

City & Guilds Foundation Podcast (2021-22)

Share This