Volunteers deliver the gift of learning
Volunteers deliver the gift of learning
June 2019
On Friday 21st June, Vauxhall Motors, Costa Coffee and local children’s charity Level Trust teamed up to provide 300 packs of vital learning resources to children in Luton.
With an estimated 45.7% of children in Luton growing up in poverty, this material support is crucial in giving them a level chance in education – and beyond.
Level Trust’s Learn@Home packs are drawstring bags bursting with the things that children need to learn outside the classroom.
Christian Iszchak, Level Trust’s Operations Director, said: “Picking up and practising new skills at home has a huge impact on a child’s success at school.Learn@Home packs are full to the brim with exciting stationery, books and craft materials to help 2-5 year olds develop important skills like reading, writing and crafting as well as making them feel ready for school.”
We’re recruiting
We’re recruiting
June 2019
We’re looking for people to work on our SMASH summer school, to give children amazing holiday experiences. Find out more about the 2 roles we have available on our careers page.
Many hands make light work
Many hands make light work
July 2019
We’ve been hard at work refurbishing a new stock room for our Uniform Exchange. We’ve been lucky enough to have a huge amount of support from local organisations, who have sent volunteers to help us transform an unloved unit into a fully-functioning stock room.
This new stock room will make a big difference to the Exchange, as it gives us the space we need to hold and sort even more items for families, including much-needed PE kit.
At the beginning of July we had a team from HSBC, who put in a lot of elbow grease sanding and painting the walls. Then Luton Sixth Form College students came and sorted all of our PE kit, categorising it by school, so that we can begin to offer it to families in our Uniform Exchange.
A team from Randstad came and painted more walls and even the floor in the unit, and they began a full stock take of all of our uniform, moving it to the new stock room as they went. This was not an easy task as it involved a lot of dust, paint fumes and also stairs! They even made this brilliant video of their day with us:
Local firm Cawleys kindly donated a skip for 1 week to help us responsibly dispose of waste materials resulting from the refurb. Two volunteers from Vauxhall Motors spent two days constructing our hanging rails, so that we have lots of sturdy storage space for all of our stock. Local solicitors Machins came to finish the stock take and moved the rest of the stock into the new stock room, hanging it up on the new railings, and a team from The Mall took over where Machins left off. This is when it started to really feel like a stock room!
We’re incredibly grateful for the support from all of these organisations – we could not have done this without them. Thanks also goes to The Clothworkers’ Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund for the grants that funded the work and enabled us to buy new equipment, including an all-important washing machine and tumble drier.
Theresa’s Story
Theresa’s Story
One of our Link Workers, Theresa, has seen the difference a new coat makes to a child:
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“A little boy came up to me recently while I was on lunch duty to show me his new reversible coat, which he got with a Level Trust coat gift card. He was so proud.
“We are supporting his family at the moment as there are a few issues at home, including a parental break-up and housing problems. This little boy has been struggling to separate from his parents when he is dropped off in the morning and needs a bit of one-to-one time with different members of staff. He often appears sad and is difficult to engage in his learning.
“Later that same day I caught him in the corridor showing his friend how the coat reverses. A few days later I saw him talking to another member of staff about his new coat too. It shows that Level Trust is making a huge difference to children’s lives.”
Child poverty is becoming ‘the new normal’
Child poverty is becoming ‘the new normal’
May 2019
End Child Poverty, the UK’s leading child poverty coalition, has released new data that shows that child poverty levels are shockingly high – and is rising fast in areas that are already hardest hit. This interactive map shows the full picture.
Heartbreakingly, Luton has the 7th highest levels of child poverty in Britain. The coalition, of which Level Trust is a member, is calling for the major Parties to put in place a strategy to reduce child poverty. The data shows that it is becoming the norm in some parts of Britain, with more than 50% of children living trapped in poverty in some constituencies.
Anna Feuchtwang, Chair of the End Child Poverty coalition, said:
‘We know what causes child poverty and we know how to end it. We know that the income of less well-off families has been hit by severe real-terms cuts in benefits and by higher housing costs. And we know that work alone does not guarantee a route out of poverty, with two thirds of child poverty occurring in working families.’
‘Yet in many areas growing up in poverty is not the exception it’s the rule with more children expected to get swept up in poverty in the coming years, with serious consequences for their life chances. Policymakers can no longer deny the depth of the problem or abandon entire areas to rising poverty. The Government must respond with a credible child poverty-reduction strategy.
‘The Government’s own data shows that child poverty in the UK has been rising steadily in recent years. This just isn’t right.’
‘Growing up in poverty means growing up trapped. It restricts a child’s chances of doing well at school, of living a healthy and happy life, and of finding well-paid work as adults. We urgently need Government to set a course of action that will free our children from the grip of poverty.’
Level Trust CEO Jane Malcolm said:
“We know through our work how devastating poverty can be for children. It means that a child might not have the uniform and equipment they need for school. They’re unlikely to be able to do fun things in the school holidays and they are more likely to suffer with mental health problems and low self-esteem. They can feel embarrassed about making friends because they feel different and they can have little hope for the future. The damage poverty can cause is heart breaking – but it doesn’t have to be like this. That’s why we are joining the call to end child poverty in Luton and across the UK.”
End Child Poverty is calling for Government to set out an ambitious and credible child poverty-reduction strategy, including:
Restoring the link between benefits (including housing support) and inflation, and then making up for the loss in the real value in children’s benefits as a result of the 4-year freeze and previous sub-inflation increases in benefit rates.
Ending the two-child limit on child allowances in tax credits and universal credit-and reforming Universal Credit.
Reversing the cuts and investing in children’s services such as mental health, education, childcare and social care.
The full report is available at: www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/poverty-in-your-area-2019/
Majid’s Story
Majid’s Story
Majid’s parents work really hard to provide for him and his siblings. It’s still incredibly difficult to make ends meet, which makes Majid’s parents stressed and distracted.
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We gave Majid his very own Learn@Home pack, full of exciting arts and crafts materials, a reading book and lots of stationery. It made a massive difference. Majid’s mum told us:
“Majid was excited to receive the pack as it was just for him. He just wants to try everything now all at once. It will help him to learn how to hold pens and pencils properly to gain more control. It will also inspire me to work with him. I get so busy with work and life that I forget to take a step back and do fun things with the kids to help them learn.”
Thank you to our star trekkers!
Thank you to our star trekkers!
April 2019
A team of 21 intrepid walkers have challenged themselves with the trek of a lifetime to raise money for Luton’s children.
On Saturday 6thApril, the group trekked an incredible 34km (21 miles) along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset to raise money for Level Trust.
Over the course of 10 tough hours, the team walked the stunning South Coast Path from Swanage to Lulworth Cove. Scaling steep climbs – and just as steep descents – they climbed a total of 1,309m, just 36m less than the height of Ben Nevis.
Among the participants were the ‘Jurassic Coastbusters’ from Machins Solicitors LLP, a team from Metro Bank Luton and a fearless family celebrating a 50thbirthday! Local clothing company Prestige Design kindly donated bespoke t-shirts so everyone could step out in style.
The group’s amazing efforts raised over £10,000. What an amazing achievement!
Visit from Gavin Shuker MP
Visit from Gavin Shuker MP
February 2019
On Friday (22nd February), Gavin Shuker MP visited Level Trust, to hear how we tackle child poverty in our town.
1 in 3 children in Luton live in poverty. This means that they often have to go to school wearing shoes that don’t fit, with no winter coat, or with the wrong school uniform. Often they don’t have the things they need for homework and in the holidays they don’t get the chance to do fun and exciting things.
Christian Iszchak, Operations Director for Level Trust, said, “A child’s time in education has a lasting impact. Good or bad, it affects the rest of their life. Going without simple things like uniform or proper school shoes has a far-reaching impact on a child or young person. Itmeans they’re likely to be bullied, removed from lessons, or even truant. They feel self-conscious, embarrassed and worried about being told off, which damages their happiness, confidence and ability to concentrate in lessons.”
Mr Shuker was involved with the creation of Level Trust in 2013, when a group of local volunteers decided to do something to help the thousands of children affected by poverty in Luton. He has remained committed to helping to improve Luton children’s experience of education, giving them a level chance in school and beyond.
Watch this short video of Mr Shuker’s visit:
It’s #SmallCharityWeek and a great time to highlight the outstanding work of the @LevelTrust Uniform Exchange in Luton’s Mall. A fantastic charity doing excellent work to try and level the playing field for kids in our schools. pic.twitter.com/Igoh8z4koo
— Gavin Shuker MP (@gavinshuker) June 18, 2019
Thanks to recent grants from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Aviva Community Fund, Level Trust’s Uniform Exchange can help even more families. It is now open on Saturdays (10am-2pm) as well as Tuesdays (12-4pm), Wednesdays (9am-1pm), Thursdays (12-4pm) and Fridays (9am-1pm). The Uniform Exchange is open to any family – just bring school uniform you’ve finished with and swap it for items you need.
Challenge yourself for charity
Challenge yourself for charity
January 2019
Make amazing memories with the walk of a lifetime and raise money for local children who need your help. Start 2019 on the right foot by signing up for Level Trust’s Jurassic Coast Fundraising Trek.
Level Trust is a charity that helps the thousands of children living in poverty in Luton by giving them the crucial things they need for school, so they have a level chance of fulfilling their amazing potential.
The challenge will have you trekking 30km (18.6 miles) in 1 day along the South West Coast Path in Dorset to raise money for this excellent cause. Take part on your own or tackle it with a group of friends, family or colleagues.
Level Trust’s Maddy Iszchak said: “This is a great way to beat the winter blues. Taking on a challenge like this is really motivational – you get to achieve a personal goal while helping others. I’m taking part myself and it’s an inspirational way to start 2019. If you’re up for a challenge and care about your community, join us!”
The trek will take place on Saturday 6th April, with an overnight stay the night before. Find out more and register online at www.charitychallenge.com/expedition/2888/Jurassic-Coast-Challenge-Level-Trust. Plus, there’s a 10% discount on registration until the end of January.
Level Trust celebrates 5 years
Level Trust celebrates 5 years
October 2018
Over the past 5 years, we have helped thousands of families overcome the costs of education, so children in Luton have the chance to love learning.
27% of children in our town live in poverty – that’s over 16,000 children. When money is tight at home, a child might not have the uniform and equipment they need for school. They’re unlikely to be able to do fun things in the school holidays and they’re more likely to suffer with mental health problems and low self-esteem. They can feel embarrassed about making friends because they feel ‘different’ and they can have little hope for the future.
Giving children the things they need for school makes them feel more included, more confident, and enables them to attend school more – which all adds up to a brighter future.
Since we launched 5 years ago, we have given children over 600 warm winter coats and more than 2,700 pairs of new school shoes, and provided 3,790 3-5 year olds and 555 GCSE students with crucial learning resources.
In June, over 80 family support professionals from across the town came together for the annual Child Poverty Conference. As well as hearing from experts in subjects as diverse as universal credit, gangs, and homelessness, they made the most of the chance to share their knowledge and experience with each other, to make Luton’s family support even stronger.
This year, this work has been made possible by funding from London Luton Airport Limited via the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation and from People’s Postcode Trust. People’s Postcode Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. On top of this, the project received support from Vauxhall Motors, Mrs B L Robinson’s Charitable Trust, Gale Family Charity Trust, SAGE Global Giving and CDS Action, and will also benefit from funding from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme and the Foxley Kingham 50thAnniversary Foundation.