Media giant Bloomberg, as well as law firm A&O Shearman, Barclays and other members of a coalition involving charities and businesses, are handing three English regions £500,000 each to find ways locally to tackle inequality among children.

Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands Mayoral Combined Authorities are to receive the funding and support from the Fair Education Alliance.

The money is being handed out through the Alliance’s ‘Neighbourhood to National’ strategy and will be used to support partnerships between Mayors and local businesses, schools and charities to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

This includes supporting work to identify "the root causes of educational inequity, map out activity and test and scale solutions tailored to regional needs".

“Bloomberg is committed to expanding opportunities for young people, and the Neighbourhood to National Strategy reflects the kind of place-based leadership needed to drive lasting change,” said the media firm’s global head of corporate philanthropy Jemma Read.

"We’re proud to support the Fair Education Alliance and work alongside Mayors who are championing better outcomes for children and young people in the communities that need it most."

Fair Education Alliance co-chief executive Gina Cicerone added that collaboration between local experts is important to tackling inequality among children as ‘no single organisation or policy’ can tackle the problem alone.

The Alliance warns that children from low-income families are almost two years behind their peers by the end of secondary school.

"I want young people to have the best start in life, no matter their background, and the backing of the Fair Education Alliance is a vote of confidence in our region that supports my mission to deliver just that," said West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.

"Investing in our young people in this way gives them the chance to achieve their full potential and help build our region's future prosperity."

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said the money will help "unlock the potential of every young person, so everyone can stay near and go far’".

"I’ve heard from young people about the challenges they face getting into education, jobs and training. Their message was loud and clear that far too often the support they need is patchy and hard to find," he added.

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