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In January 2021 the UK went back into lockdown and all schools were closed for the foreseeable future. Data showed a massive shortfall in the number of children with digital access at home including up to 9,400 children across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. To tackle this head-on, the Digital Drive campaign was launched. In this episode we talk to Julie Spence, OBE QPM, Lord-Lieutenant Cambridgeshire, Hazel Belchamber, Assistant Director for Education Capital and Place Planning, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council and Phil Priestley, Cambs Youth Panel about the success of this collaborative action to provide laptops and internet access for children across the county and how Cambridge can continue to unite in addressing inequality.  We also hear from a young volunteer at Cambs Youth Panel, Neil Matthews from North Cambridge Academy who has seen first-hand the positive impact that this campaign has had on students, and Eddie Latham, co-founder of Velocity Commerce about the company’s donation to the campaign. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications. To get in touch, email Alison Taylor on info@consciouscomms.com

In 2016, Cambridge was named a social mobility ‘coldspot’, meaning it ranked in the lowest 20 percent of local authorities across the UK. This means that for a child from a disadvantaged background, the chances of doing well at school and getting a good job in Cambridge are low. The impact of Covid-19 threatens to significantly widen the social mobility gap still further, with young people disproportionately affected by the pandemic. It is evident that something needs to be done to provide greater opportunities and support in order to address the inequalities, narrow the gap in attainment and improve outcomes for Cambridge’s disadvantaged children, and address inequality in Cambridge by 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this episode we talk to Nigel Howlett, the CEO of the CHS Group, which provides housing, care and community services in Cambridge and Paula Bishop, Children & Young People’s Services Manager, Cambridge City Council. We also hear from a trustee of the Red Hen Project and from Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO of the Eastern Learning Alliance, and from Sam Fox, Principal of North Cambridge Academy. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications. If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com

Cambridge has some of the greatest inequality in the country in terms of social mobility and overall life chances for disadvantaged children and young people growing up in the region.  Children from disadvantaged backgrounds generally do less well academically and have less opportunities for career progression and income generation. Greater emphasis must be put on education, careers information and work experience opportunities in Cambridge to improve social mobility. In this episode we talk to Tariq Sadiq, Chair of Cambridge Commons, about the Form the Future mission, and how young people can be empowered in their career choices and prepared for the future. We also hear from Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO of the Eastern Learning Alliance, and from Sam Fox, Principal of North Cambridge Academy. All views expressed by individuals in this episode are their own and do not represent any organisation they may be affiliated with. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications. Find out more at Cambridge2030.org. If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com

Cambridge boasts some of the greatest inequality in the country in terms of social mobility and the overall life chances of disadvantaged children and young people growing up here. Studies show that access to arts and culture can make a radical difference in improving academic attainment, mental health, transferable life and work skills, as well as levelling the playing field for disadvantaged students. But, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to participate in arts and culture, partly due to the associated costs, and partly due to lack of exposure and engagement to drive their interest.  In this episode we talk to Michelle Lord, Senior Arts Development Officer at Cambridge City Council, about how access to arts and culture can be instrumental in support young people in achieving their full potential, and also to Robert Porrer, school governor and Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, who is leading a local RSA group looking at inequality in education and the transition to employment. We also hear from Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO of the Eastern Learning Alliance, and from Sam Fox, Principal of North Cambridge Academy. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications. Find out more at Cambridge2030.org. If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com

In December 2019, a homeless woman gave birth to twins outside Cambridge University’s wealthiest college, Trinity. A sadly ironic image representing the vast disparity between Cambridge’s richest and poorest citizens; deprivation overshadowed by the city’s reputation.  Due partly to an influx of large fast-growing companies, Cambridge has become one of the least affordable places to live in the UK; the average cost of a house is 13 times more than the city’s median annual salary. As a result, many people are forced to live outside the city and community to work, and homelessness has continued to increase year on year.  In this episode we talk to Jonathan Martin, CEO of YMCA Trinity, and Gavin Howard, Director of the Howard Group and member of The Besom in Cambridge charity, and hear from members of the local community, about what can be done to address homelessness and prevent vulnerable people falling into poverty, part of the mission for the Cambridge 2030 initiative @Cambridge2030. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications. If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com.

Hunger in Cambridge is systemic and pre-dates the pandemic.  This winter, food banks are expecting to give out an emergency food parcel every 9 seconds. With thousands more now facing financial hardship, food banks have seen an increase in families who are “newly hungry”, who have been forced to use support services and claim benefits for the first time. In Cambridge, this fact is reflected by a 23% rise in Cambridge City Foodbank’s clients in the last year. There is concern that these families, and many more, will continue to struggle post-pandemic. In this episode we talk with Margaret Saner, CEO of Cambridge City Foodbank, about the immense pressure food banks are under and what can be done to address food insecurity, and with Gavin Shelton, founder of the community farming initiative CoFarm, about how creating a sustainable food supply may be part of the solution. We also hear from members of the local community, Vicar David Maher from the Church of the Good Shepherd and from Sam Fox, Principal of North Cambridge Academy. Find out more at Cambridge2030.org If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.

Cambridge is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK and is host to some of the most productive and innovative contributors to the UK economy. However, economic growth and success brings with it challenges, including rising congestion, housing shortages and pollution. Cambridge needs to take radical action to grow sustainably and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is the mission for the Cambridge 2030 initiative @Cambridge2030. In this episode we talk to Simon Humphrey, senior manager of sustainability at Arm and Jane Paterson-Todd, CEO of Cambridge Ahead, about the positive and negative impacts of the Cambridge phenomenon, and how more sustainable growth might be achieved, and hear from members of the community about this impact from their perspective. This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.  If you want to contribute to a future series, get in touch with Alison Taylor at info@consciouscomms.com.

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