An innovative project to launch the tech careers of disadvantaged young people has had a welcome kick start, thanks to a donation made by Macmillan Science and Education.

Connecting Tech City, launched last month, hopes to raise £50,000 to ensure Islington and Hackney’s youth can benefit from opportunities at Tech City, and the donation of £6,000 by Macmillan marks a “significant boost” to the project.

The initiative is looking for more donors to help reach their target, with an aim to raise “significantly more” to launch a new web platform for young people to learn more about Tech City.

Ben Rogers, Director of Centre for London, said: “Macmillan Science and Education’s donation today marks a significant boost in our fundraising efforts and means we are one more step towards realising our goal of building the most socially inclusive tech cluster in the world.

“We launched the “Connecting Tech City” campaign with the intention of it becoming a truly collaborative initiative across London’s tech and education communities. We urge others to get involved in any way they can to help us meet our target by 16 June.”

Macmillan Science and Education has also joined the call for more “established players in technology and education” to donate to the cause.

Annette Thomas, CEO of Macmillan Science and Education, said: “We are fully supportive of the “Connecting Tech City” project and its aim to build relations between London’s digital cluster and the local economy.

“Colleagues from across our businesses are already working on a number of fantastic initiatives supporting local young people in King’s Cross, Tech City and beyond.

“The Connecting Tech City project will provide a platform through which these efforts can be coordinated and will allow for more effective collaboration between businesses, young people, parents, teachers and schools – an effort we wholeheartedly welcome and support.”

The project hopes to bridge the gap between east London’s tech prosperity and its unemployment levels- with Tower Hamlets home to the country’s most deprived children.