Sedulo provides hundreds of ‘Back to School’ bags for young people affected by poverty across the UK

Posted: 16 / 08 / 2023

With Child Poverty Action Group reporting over 4 million young people in the UK living in households affected by poverty, and thousands starting the new school term without essential items, the Sedulo Back to School campaign has returned in 2023.

Delivered by Sedulo’s official charity arm, The Sedulo Foundation – the Back to School campaign supports disadvantaged young people throughout the country as they transition from primary to secondary school this September. The campaign complements previous education-centred initiatives, such as providing laptops and tablets to secondary school students facing digital poverty.

This year the Back to School campaign is providing over 750 ‘Back to School’ bags to support young people growing up in households affected by poverty. The Back to School bags include stationery, PE kit and other essential items, as well as Nando’s vouchers, allowing young people to socialise with their peers.. In total, the Foundation has provided over 11,500 individual items to 27 local primary schools, partner charities and youth groups across Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and East London.

The Sedulo Foundation marked its official launch in June with a star-studded fundraising event in Manchester, raising a net profit £125,000 with every penny going to good causes across the country.

The Sedulo Foundation chair, Cathryn Wright, is hoping the Back to School bags will give extra confidence to young people as they take the next step in their education.

Cathryn Wright said:

“Starting secondary school is daunting enough without the financial pressures that come with it and so we wanted to do something practical to help young people living in households affected by poverty.

“The Back to School bags will go some way to help young people during the transition from primary to secondary schools and it builds on the work we have already done through the Sedulo Foundation to tackle digital poverty affecting school children across the country.

“The Sedulo Foundation is all about building better futures for young people and this campaign is a key part of that wider, ongoing strategy.”

Watch: Sedulo Back to School Appeal 2023

Here’s how this year’s Back To School Appeal unfolded. For more information on the Sedulo Foundation, or donate to make a difference and donate, head to www.sedulofoundation.org.