Back to School Backpacks

Education is often seen as the key to breaking out of the vicious cycle of poverty, but when children are turning up to school in ill-fitting uniform, without pens or pencils, and hungry because their family cannot afford clothing, stationery, or food, it is difficult to see how they are supposed to learn.

A survey by the National Education Union and Child Poverty Action Group found that:

60% of teachers think that the extent of poverty in their schools and its effect on pupils has got worse over the last three years;

Over half have personally provided children with school equipment, such as books and stationery;

89% have seen pupils without the correct or suitably fitting school uniform;

And over a third have given food to hungry pupils.

And for most children living in poverty, the school lunch can be the only nutritious meal they have all day, so during the summer holidays, parents have to spend more on food, which means there is less money to buy uniform or stationery when the school year starts.

In September, Al-Mizan Charitable Trust will distribute Back to School Backpacks to children living in poverty across the UK. 

Each Backpack is worth £50 and contains £20 of clothing vouchers; folder; A4 notepad; A5 notebook; pencil case; pens; pencils; USB stick; scientific calculator; maths set; ruler; water bottle; drawstring bag for sports; and £5 book voucher.

We will also need volunteers to help us pack the backpacks at the end of August in London. To stay informed about volunteering opportunities, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.