What is the Birmingham e-Learning Foundation?

A key plank in the AAL strategy was the establishment of a charitable trust, called the Birmingham e-Learning Foundation, so that new sources of funding could be accessed and the taxable element of charitable donations could be reclaimed. This trust will enable the charitable advancement of education within the community of the City of Birmingham. 

In particular, it will focus on those who have social or economic disadvantage, or who have disability through the provision and assistance in the provision of information, learning and communications technology (ILCT).

How will your money benefit Young Learners...?

To date, the Birmingham e-Learning Foundation has enabled the purchase of class sets of Portable Learning Devices ie Sharp A5 Windows Pocket PC machines and Fujitsu Lifebook (small footprint) notebook PC’s.  These will be loaned to AAL pilot schools on a term-by-term basis.

The Birmingham e-Learning Foundation Charity Seeks to promote:

• THE PROVISION OF A POWERFUL PORTABLE or mobile ILCT device for every teacher, student, pupil or other learner enabling universal access to powerful learning tools
   

• EQUALITY OF ACCESS to innovations in ILCT, which facilitate teaching and lifelong learning, irrespective of individual and community financial and social circumstances;
   

• COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS and partnerings, which establish and foster relationships between schools, parents, within the community and within the wider community that access and promote best practice in education.
   

• CONNECTED LEARNING COMMUNITIES linking schools, homes, individuals, workplaces and government into a collective commitment to lifelong e-learning environments.
   

• SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION in and commitment to ILCT based teaching, learning and educational establishments in connected learning communities for the benefit of the communities and those within them.

There are a number of Birmingham Schools who are now ready to begin laptop learning initiatives, and the existence of the Birmingham e-Learning Foundation will allow the Education Service to take advantage of tax incentives and also to attempt to access funding sources not normally available to Schools.