Posted: 02 / 09 / 2022

A national Back to School Appeal has supported 1,000 children in the UK who, due to their living conditions, face an impoverished and underprepared transition between primary and secondary school.

The Back to School Appeal, started by the partnership through UK financial services firm Sedulo and the Michael Carrick Foundation, reaches out to families impacted the most by poverty, whose children brace themselves for Summer without access to free school meals. Due to this, children return to their new school year without the basic equipment needed to learn.

In 2020 the Appeal donated 250 learn-from-home packs to children in Greater Manchester, where schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many of them without the equipment their school provided to continue their education behind closed doors.

Rising living costs and lack of free school meals during the Summer holidays have made conditions worse for the 500,000 children who live in the UK’s poverty bracket, so 2022’s Back to School Appeal pledged to supply more children with packs of learning essentials, food items and a Nando’s voucher to give them independence.

The Appeal supported 400 children in Manchester and Newcastle through the Michael Carrick Foundation’s work in schools in those regions. Another 600 children in Sedulo’s cities of Liverpool, Leeds and London were also the recipients of the Back to School packs as they prepare themselves for life in secondary schools.

On the impact of the Appeal, former Manchester United midfielder and Michael Carrick Foundation Founder, Michael Carrick, said:

 
“Through the Foundation I’m committed to ensuring that all youngsters, no matter their age, background or ability, have the equipment they need to take part and be the best that they can be.

“This is important both on and off the pitch and I hope the Back to School Pack initiative really helps make difference.”
 

And on the need for Appeals like this, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, founder of Sedulo Group said:

 
“Good businesses should create positive change in the societies they work in; that’s a fact. For over 13 years we’ve actively campaigned to make life easier for children living in impoverished conditions out of their control. Unfortunately, with external factors such as rising costs of living and energy crises, campaigns like this are needed more than ever.

“Our Back to School Appeal follows past Sedulo initiatives such as our Christmas Toy Appeal, donating 250 learn-from-home packs to the Michael Carrick Foundation and delivering tablets and laptops to support the learning of Hackney school children living in digital poverty.

“These support packs are going to children in the most deprived circumstances across the UK. Because of the kindness of every Sedulo team member, client, contact and friend of the firm, 1,000 children across Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and London will return to their studies nourished, happier, and ready to start their next school year.”