Hundreds of ‘back to school’ bags provided for young people affected by poverty across the UK

750 ‘back to school’ bags have been provided to young people living in poverty across the region as they prepare to transition from primary to secondary school this September. 

As the new school term approaches, Sedulo, a mid-tier financial advisory and accountancy firm, has provided the bags as a major gesture to support disadvantaged young people. 

Delivered by Sedulo’s official charity arm, The Sedulo Foundation, which was launched in June, the ‘Back to School’ campaign supports disadvantaged young people throughout the country and follows other significant efforts, such as providing laptops and tablets to secondary school students facing digital poverty.  

According to the Child Poverty Action Group, over 4 million young people in the UK are living in households affected by poverty with thousands starting the new school term without essential items.    

The ‘Back to School’ bags include stationery, PE kits, Nando’s vouchers and other helpful items.  

In total, the foundation has provided  

-£15,780 of Nando’s vouchers 

– 1,578 pieces of P.E kit 

– 7,101 pieces of stationery 

– 2367 goodies 

– Over 11,500 individual items in all to 27 local primary schools and charities across Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool & London. 

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

The Sedulo Foundation chair, Cathryn Wright, is hoping the 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 high school students around the country.  

“The Sedulo Foundation is about building better futures for young people and that’s what we are committed to doing.”