As schools returned this autumn, one of our corporate partners got in touch. They wanted to help young people facing real barriers to education — and they wanted to do something concrete, not just write a cheque.
We spoke to our portfolio charities about the most urgent needs. Together, we designed a response.
The project
The starting point was practical: 50 backpacks stocked with the essentials many young people arrive at school without — stationery, a calculator, the bag itself.
But as we worked through the brief with our charities, something else came up. A quieter, harder problem.
Young people without the digital access they need to learn outside school. No laptop. No tablet. No way to complete homework, access resources, or stay connected to their peers and support networks. The kind of thing most of us take for granted.
Our partner put out a call.
The solution
Alongside the 50 backpacks, they raised funds for 95 tablets — sourced at significantly reduced cost through their supplier network — to go to young people across the Raise Your Hands portfolio who were struggling with digital exclusion.
The impact
Twenty-five of the tablets went to Chiva, for young people living with HIV. For many of these children, socio-economic hardship directly affects their ability to manage their health and stay engaged with education. Digital access isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline.
“Having access to digital tech is essential for children to engage with education and to enable them to continue with educational activities outside of school.
We know from our work during Covid how important tech is for children’s social interactions, and accessing support networks of others living with HIV. We are incredibly grateful for the very generous donation of these tablets.”
– Amanda Ely, CEO of Chiva
The remaining tablets were distributed across other charities in the Raise Your Hands portfolio, reaching children facing their own barriers to learning.
One family’s story
Two siblings that Chiva had just started supporting were in hospital, having only recently been diagnosed with HIV. Both were seriously unwell.
Their family was already navigating considerable economic hardship and unstable housing. Their parents were doing everything they could to keep the children up to speed with their schoolwork — but with limited resources, in a hospital setting, it was an enormous struggle.
Both children received a tablet.
It meant they could keep up with learning while they recovered. It took one pressure off a family already carrying a great deal. And when they’re well enough to return to school, they won’t be behind.
Small objects. Real consequences.
About Raise Your Hands Partners We’re a UK-based social impact consultancy working exclusively with finance firms, asset managers, and PE houses to build bespoke corporate giving and volunteering programmes. Since 2015, we’ve directed over £4M to a vetted portfolio of 16 high-impact small charities supporting children and young people across the UK.
If you’d like to explore what this could look like for your team, we’d love to hear from you.
