The good news is that CSIE staff and trustees are well, safe, and staying as positive as possible. In one sense it is business as usual: staff are busy working from home on existing projects. The IMAS II “Knowledge Box” on Disabled Children’s Rights in Education is nearing completion and will soon be available to school assistants who want to pilot it. Our long-awaited online Equality Hub is also nearing completion and should be available on www.tes.com when usual working conditions are restored. And we are still glowing with delight, at the memory of the IMAS project being selected as a “success story” and the international interest in CSIE following the Zero Project Conference 2020.
But all is not well. Bookings to deliver workshops and to speak at a conference have been cancelled and, with schools still closed, an important source of income is not available to us. CSIE’s future now hangs in the balance and, unless we find a way to cover a shortfall of £2,500 per month until schools reopen, CSIE will have to close.
That said, there is still hope. CSIE has joined the 2.6 challenge, a nationwide initiative to support the charity sector, starting this Sunday, 26 April. The idea is that people choose a challenge linked to the number 2.6 or 26 (because 26 April would have been the London Marathon, which raises millions for charities every year) and either make a donation to their chosen charity or ask family, friends and colleagues to sponsor them and make a bigger donation to their chosen charity. The challenge could be anything: walk, run, wheelchair, swim or cycle 2.6 miles, have an online meeting with 26 people, shrug your shoulders 26 times, literally anything. The only rule is to observe Government guidelines on exercising and social distancing. There is more information, including a wide range of challenge ideas, at www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk.
CSIE’s director Artemi Sakellariadis has made a video describing her challenge.
We are also inviting our supporters to set up a challenge of their own to support CSIE. To do this, you will need to:
- sign in or create an account with Virgin Money Giving;
- click on ‘Take on a personal challenge’ and enter your challenge;
- select ‘2.6 Challenge’ when asked if you are doing a particular event;
- search and select CSIE when prompted to choose your charity;
- click on ‘Create my page’.
Many thanks in anticipation of your support! With your help we can keep CSIE on the map and continue to promote equality in education: addressing prejudice and working towards equal opportunities for all, especially for disabled children and young people!
