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According to the Good Things Foundation, 1.9 million households lack access to the internet across the UK, 11.7 million people lack essential digital skills needed to use the internet, there are 11.5 million people without a smartphone, and 1 in 6 adults can’t open an app.

Supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Good Things foundation and FutureDotNow are coordinating industry action through a campaign, DevicesDotNow, targeting the households without access to the internet and who are digitally excluded as we face a socially distanced world gripped by COVID-19.

According to Hellen Milner, the Good Things Foundation CEO, “digital inclusion is no longer a nice-to-have, but a need-to-have. People urgently need access (devices, connectivity), digital skills and support. Funding today will set us up for a better future”. The campaign is now closer to its initial target to help 10,000 people with devices, data and support, due to recently awarded funding.

Read the campaign’s interim impact report here. According to the campaign coordinators, demand is still out stripping supply so if you think you can help in any way please do get in touch or make a donation here.

EasyPeasy is a social enterprise on a mission to help parents give young children the best possible start in life. Since lockdown, the start-up has been sharing great resources and family activities and has put together a list of articles for parents to better handle sensitive conversations about racism with little children.

Systemic racism affects everyone and white parents have a special responsibility to trigger the conversation about race and show to their children that it is very important to talk about diversity and equality. “Fascinating studies have shown that at only six months of age, babies notice racial differences. By age four, pre-school children have begun to show signs of racial bias and preferences. By the age of five, 90% of the brain is formed.”

Check the resources recommended by EasyPeasy here. Download the EasyPeasy app here.

On 19th March, following the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the challenges faced by many of our local partners delivering services to vulnerable residents, K+C Foundation launched a COVID-19 Appeal. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community, they have to date raised £738,000 to help frontline organisations delivering crisis response work in the borough. With the help of supporters and community organisations, K+C has been able to make a difference to over 11,000 vulnerable people in their community so far.

To date, they have supported 40 organisations that have been delivering essential food services, providing mental health support, offering employment advice and digital devices to vulnerable families. One of the organisations that have been funded by the Lightbulb Trust through K+C Foundation COVID appeal is Solidarity Sports who works with children facing a range of complex needs, including neglect, abandonment, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

During the COVID-19 crisis, Solidarity Sports provided vulnerable children and young people with necessary IT equipment so they could access educational resources and families could stay connected during the pandemic. In addition, 100 families were given weekly support through food supplies, care packages, essential household items and a video buddying service.

Recovery and Rebuilding

Eight weeks after K+C Foundation launched the appeal, they continue to receive requests for support from local partners and are particularly aware of the increase in demand for services including mental health support, employment advice and support for families at risk. With that in mind, K+C’s COVID-19 appeal remains open to support West London based organisations who lost significant income due to cancelled fundraising events.

K+C Foundation prepared a video that captures some of the incredible work they have been able to support. Read their full update and list of supported organisations here.

A brand-new social investment research has been published by design and innovation charity Shift in partnership with CAF Venturesome, Unltd, and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. One of the main conclusions is that “patient, risk-bearing capital is a powerful type of funding that can help social purpose organisations (SPOs) achieve social impact at scale. Yet in the UK it is rarely demanded by SPOs and seldom offered by funders, particularly social investors.” The study suggests that the lack of awareness is one of the key barriers to accessing a variety of funding and investment options.

According to the report, there is a need for more patient investors, those organisations or individuals who are willing to share risk with innovators, accepting that not all ideas work – some may fail, some may make a loss. For those ideas that do work, the financial return and impact can be exponential. This type of capital has been a key driving force behind much of our recent human advancement.

Read the full report here.