Sarah Heward Chief Officer of Operations, Tech Equal
Why was the charity founded?
Access to technology and the internet has become increasingly important in today’s world, as they both play imperative roles in education, communication, and access to the wider world. However, many children living in Teesside do not have equal access. This disparity is known as the “digital divide” and has significant implications for children’s education. The pandemic forced the spotlight on this when schools closed, and children had to learn from home.
The Tees region makes up 36% of UK child poverty, with areas of Middlesbrough falling in the top 4% of this statistic. Tees kids are seriously falling behind, through no fault of their own.
Dean Benson, the brainchild behind Tech Equal, was appalled at the level of digital poverty in Teesside. After donating approximately £20,000 during the pandemic, he decided to pursue a longer-term solution to tackle digital poverty. Over the last year, this idea has become part of a much bigger agenda to increase tech equity for all Tees kids.
Which area do you cover?
Currently, we are working with 13 Middlesbrough-based schools to upskill their workforce. Our partnership with Spark Tees Valley provides teachers with the skills they need to go back into the classroom confidently and competently using tech equipment. As we grow, we hope to work with the wider areas of Teesside and Tees Valley.
What have been your proudest moments so far?
Having launched the charity from scratch, we have had so many moments to be proud of from the launch of our first training cohort to making our first donation of devices to Zoë’s Place. We recently found our first fundraising partner, with others hopefully joining us shortly.
Who are your main trustees and patrons?
As well as myself and Dean Benson, our board of trustees is made up of Katrina Morley, CEO of Tees Valley Education, Helen Woods, from the Mandale Group, Professor Mark Simpson from Teesside University and Matt Welch from Tech Nation. They are extremely passionate about making a positive change for the next generation.
Charlotte Nichols from Harvey & Hugo, Laura Hall from The Truffled Hog and Max Freer from Ook Agency also work alongside me, forming a formidable creative and strategic team to drive our vision forward.
What are you currently working on?
This is a really exciting time for the charity as we have finally moved into an operational phase with so much happening in the background to be executed in 2023.
The launch of our first campaign, Purple Friday, is around the corner. We are asking Tees Valley businesses and schools to get involved on Friday, March 24th and play their purple part. Wear, make, bake or do something purple, have fun and help raise awareness of tech equity. We want the whole region to get involved and help us #TurnTeessidePurple.
Why is it important for children to have digital access?
By 2030 it is predicted that 9 out of 10 jobs will require digital skills – a skill set Tees children are currently leaving education without. In addition, they have very little awareness of what digital, creative and tech businesses are doing right here in the North East and what jobs are available to them as viable careers.
During primary education, the brain is in a crucial stage of cognitive and social development – a time when increasing aspiration and teaching new skills can be most effective. We hope that by capitalising on this stage of neuroplasticity we can increase the aspirations of our next generation and use them as a catalyst for change.
How do people get involved?
As we set our plans in motion for 2023 there are a handful of ways businesses can be involved by donating time, money, expertise or equipment.
We are looking for 100 Tees Businesses to sponsor 100 Tees children. It costs 31p a day to ensure a child has access to digital equipment in education – that’s less than a Costa coffee.
100% of donations go to increasing digital access in education.
