Tech poverty in a digital world - The Jewish Chronicle

We run our finances with paperless online accounts; many of us are able to do our jobs remotely or in hybrid format thanks to high-speed internet available in our homes; most secondary school students must have a laptop for academic work both in and outside school hours and there has been a significant move towards digitisation of timetabling and comms for schools and universities.

But for the 80,000 care leavers in England, aged 18 to 24, having the required access to technology is far from a given.

In a report on the figures, the social business Catch-22 found: “Fears are growing that many care leavers remain without internet access, leaving them unable to access education, training, work and to keep in touch with friends, family and professionals.”
Sky Up is already looking to tackle this with the introduction of its Digital Hubs to allow under-25s (and over-65s) access to free wi-fi and devices, training, skills masterclasses and after-school clubs to bridge the divide.

But much more is needed to support the 108,000 children already in the UK care system, as well as the projected 30,000 children entering care in the next 12 months.

Comfort Cases UK works directly with local authorities and fostering agencies across the age spectrum, with children and young people from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, to provide dignity and hope when they enter emergency care.

Our #nomorebinbags campaign, aiming to eliminate the stigma and embarrassment of having your most treasured belongings shoved in a bin bag, at risk of damage and loss, has been successfully running across the UK and the demand continues to grow, despite available funding and individual giving decreasing.

But as a charity working in a space that rarely gets the publicity or air time needed to educate communities on the full extent of challenges that children in care face, we feel a duty to use our platform to highlight issues such as digital poverty.

Last Mitzvah Day, a large busy office was running a collection of toiletries, pyjamas, stationery and other essentials for us, when they offered a donation of reconditioned laptops.

These provided a lifeline to so many. We distributed them to partners across the UK where they could be put to immediate use. Care Leavers in Enfield received devices to enable young people to complete their education, apply for employment and to manage their homes through our ambassador, eminent campaigner and author, Chris Wild.

TACT Connect, the care leavers’ support hub for TACT Fostering, was able to distribute four devices.

One went to a 25-year-old care leaver who was struggling in her hunt for both a new home and further education opportunities, as her computer had broken some time ago. Thanks to the laptop, this TACT Connect member is now able to get the support she needs in housing and education from her home.

Another went to a university student whose current laptop had broken, alleviating the stress of being unable to complete her vital studies, with two more gifted to young secondary school pupils who were able to complete homework only on their carers’ devices (when available to them) and had never had a computer of their own.

The lack of Government investment and already over-stretched budgets for children’s social care do not permit these “luxuries” to be accounted for, just as basic essentials, proper bags and suitcases are also unaffordable. But in a digital society, where our phones and laptops are never more than a clasp away, are they really luxuries?

Sarah Laster is CEO of Comfort Cases.

If you would like to support Comfort Cases UK’s #nomorebinbags campaign, or speak to the team about supporting digital poverty for young people in care, please go to comfortcasesuk.org or email hello@comfortcasesuk.org

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Mitzvah Day