[Geo4All] Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024 - Please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,


Social Mobility Day exists to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.


Social mobility creates a more equal and fair society. Where opportunities to excel and achieve are available to everyone, regardless of where they started out in life. The aim of this day is to improve awareness of what social mobility is, why it is important, and how organisations can take action.


Details at https://socialmobilityday.com/


On this year’s Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024, I would like to request all to please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students.


I would like to thank Universities UK for launching the campaign supporting first generation students. First generation students are more likely to be from low-income backgrounds.


Universities UK is calling for the UK Government to:


  *
Reinstate maintenance grants in England for those who need them most to ensure future students have the same opportunities as those of previous generations.

  *
Correct maintenance loans to reflect real rates of inflation and adjust the household income threshold, which has been frozen since 2008.


Details at https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/


https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/stats-behind-the-stories


https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/supporting-first-gen-students



I have been working and championing over a decade to provide more number of full scholarships in UK universities for UK students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to university) in the UK.


I humbly request the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.3 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There is a need for focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.



Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery


https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/


Poverty: facts and figures

4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

Child poverty is high in the UK, and is projected to rise further.

Details at  https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures


Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals


https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9209/CBP-9209.pdf


This report Billionaire Britain 2022: Inequality from the top down published by Equality Trust might be of interest. Details at  https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth



I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full scholarships for students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.


Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.


Best wishes


Suchith



Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy at the University of Exeter | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate


Email - S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk<mailto:S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk>



https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/staff/anand/

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org



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