Delivery of hope
First batch of supplies arrives at school as part of our million pound campaign to help children learn in lockdown... and the smiles say it all
PUPILS receive the first delivery of basics in our home learning campaign.
And the kids at Cubitt Town Junior School in East London look delighted.
One grateful mum said: “It’s really hard at home... we just don’t have enough to go around. We’re really thankful for it.”
THEY are the sort of items many take for granted, but for poorer pupils struggling with home learning these basic tools could make a huge difference.
And this week the first delivery of much-needed stock arrived in a bid to help prevent youngsters from falling behind in their education during lockdown.
Children, parents and teachers told of their delight as goods including pens, crayons, paper and hand gel were dropped off at Cubitt Town Junior School on the Isle of Dogs, East London.
The delivery is the first batch in the Mirror’s Help a Child to Learn campaign with the National Education Union, which kicked it off with a £1million donation.
Year Five children at Cubitt Town were the first to get their hands on the delivery.
VITAL
The items are to be distributed among pupils at home and those still in class will also make use of them on projects after school.
Head Robyn Bruce praised our campaign and explained that the stock is “vital” for younger children home-learning in deprived areas, many of whom do not even have access to the basics.
Khadija Khatun lives on the 14th floor of a tower block with her husband and five children, aged 17, 15, 14, 11 and 10.
Speaking after being handed basic items, the grateful 35-year-old said: “It’s really hard at home. The school gave us a computer, and that’s great, but we also need other things which we have to go and buy.
“We really need scissors, glue, paper and pens and this will be really useful for us, so I’m very grateful for it.
“Sometimes shops I go to have run out of stock and we just don’t have enough to go around. My 11 and 10-yearolds need this kind of equipment more, and we’re really thankful for it. My husband is furloughed and we find out in April if he will go back to work.” Pupil Bradie Adu-Yeboah spoke to us mid-way through a science lesson.
The 10-year-old said of the delivery: “It’s great because it’s all new. I’ll use it for all the work I have to do at home. I have a colouring book so I will definitely be using the colouring pens.” Classmate Che’nai Quatromini, also 10, added: “I’m doing a moon project at home but I don’t have enough paper so I can use this for my background. I can also colour it in and use it for the moon. It will be really helpful.”
This week’s delivery was a sample of what schools will have sent to them. They are to get vouchers for either £500, £1,000 or £1,500, depending on their need.
So far, 438 heads are due to receive them. We are also asking our army of generous readers to dig deep and help kids at home.
And on top of the NEU £1m donation, £131,000 has been raised as part of the joint campaign.
Ms Bruce said: “Having paper, pens, scissors, and glue sticks at home is so important, and people don’t realise parents sometimes don’t have them.
“We had a parent whose child filled their homework in with a felt tip, and we could barely read it.
“They did not have a pen at home. It’s something taken for granted. Of course they need computers and iPads and online learning is important, but it’s deeper than that.
“We’ve got families where there are lots of children in one small place and just feeding them is a struggle. And then we’re asking them to buy pens and paper and glue as well. That’s why these
For some, just feeding kids is a struggle... then we ask them to buy pens & paper
HEAD TEACHER ROBYN BRUCE ON WHY IT MATTERS
deliveries will make such a difference and we thank the Mirror and the NEU for all they’re doing.
“We also want pupils to have time away from the screen and to be creative. The divide between children who are from families which have this equipment and those from families who don’t will continue to grow unless we can ensure they all have the right means to learn. So much of our budget is being used to help pupils through the pandemic and there will be extras to pay for once they return, so these items help a lot.” NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney added: “It is fantastic Cubitt Town Junior School will benefit from the Help a Child to Learn campaign.
“Every contribution goes to a school so that they can directly support disadvantaged pupils. With the help of Mirror readers, we can support even more schools and even more pupils.
“The Government should also see this help is really needed and ensure schools have the money to help all who need it.”