Cambridge - in pursuit of equality

Up to 9,400 children across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were without digital access at home in January 2021.

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.

This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

To get in touch, email Alison Taylor on [email protected]

Cambridge has long been a social mobility ‘coldspot’, a fact exacerbated by the pandemic.

The city ranks in the lowest 20 percent of local authorities across the UK. For a child from a disadvantaged background, the chances of doing well at school and getting a good job in Cambridge are very low. The impact of Covid-19 threatens to significantly widen the social mobility gap still further.

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.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

Cambridge must close its ‘experience gap’ to gain social mobility for disadvantaged children.

The city has some of the greatest inequality in the country in terms of overall life chances for disadvantaged children and young people. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds 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.

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.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

Cambridge has the UK’s greatest social inequality; disadvantaged children are in a social mobility ‘cold spot’.

Studies show that access to arts and culture can make a radical difference in improving academic attainment, mental health, transferable life and work skills, and levelling the playing field for disadvantaged students but children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to participate.

In this episode we talk to Michelle Lord, Senior Arts Development Officer at Cambridge City Council, and to Robert Porrer, school governor and Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts. 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.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

A homeless woman gives birth to twins outside Cambridge University’s wealthiest college illustrating the city’s vast inequality.

The disparity between Cambridge’s richest and poorest citizens, which pre-dates the pandemic by decades, overshadows the city’s boom-town reputation.

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.

This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

Hunger in Cambridge is systemic and pre-dates the pandemic.

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. 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, and with Gavin Shelton, founder of the community farming initiative CoFarm. 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.

This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/

How can Cambridge continue its phenomenal growth sustainably?

The economic success of Cambridge has brought many challenges and the city needs to take radical action to continue its growth sustainably and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In this episode we talk to Simon Humphrey, senior manager of sustainability at Arm and Jane Paterson-Todd, CEO of Cambridge Ahead, as well as members of the Cambridge community, about the impacts of the Cambridge phenomenon, and how sustainable growth might be achieved.

This podcast series, Cambridge – in pursuit of equality, is brought to you by Conscious Communications.

Cambridge 2030 https://cambridge2030.org/