For every £1 we spend, 84p helps children and families
Imagine having to suddenly leave everything you know behind. Your belongings, your family, your home. Now imagine facing that as a child.
We know children in residential or foster care have often faced huge challenges in their young lives. Over half will have suffered neglect and abuse. Many will have experienced trauma. But we also know they want to go to school, play with friends and have fun, just like any other child.
The world might see children in care differently, but we don’t. Because we know they’re a child like any other, with a favourite TV show and a favourite food. A child that deserves to feel safe and loved, and to thrive as they grow up.
“It’s very powerful when you say to a child ‘it doesn't matter what you do, we’re going to stay here, we're going to love you and guide you through it all’. We are there to stand by these children. That’s what Action for Children does. We stand by every child and we work through those difficult times together.”
Caroline, Residential Manager, Action for Children
We provide safe and loving homes for children who need them, we support young people transitioning out of care, and we campaign to make the system better.
Our small, family-style children’s homes offer stability to children, and our supportive foster carers help children feel at home.
Thanks to amazing people like you, last year we directly supported approx. 12,000 children and young people in, or with experience of, the care system.
Children in care deserve a place to call home
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"One of his absolute favourite things to do was sit with all the staff on a Saturday evening watching TV. He couldn’t believe we had a living room where we sat together, watched a movie and ate snacks. You should see the children’s eyes light up when they get to experience joy from things that we take for granted. It’s just wonderful.”
Caroline, Residential Manager, Action for Children
Your support could help children in care feel safe and loved.
Help us give them what every child needs.
For every £1 we spend, 84p helps children and families
More about our work
What does Action for Children do?
We protect and support children and young people. We do this by providing practical and emotional care and support. We make sure their voices are heard. And we campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives.
Today, we run 342 services in local communities across the UK, in schools and online.
In our nurseries and children's centres, staff make sure children get the best start in life. Our foster, adoptive and modern residential services find children and young people safe and loving homes.
We step in to protect children from neglect and abuse and help those who care for others or are at risk of homelessness. Innovative projects like The Blues Programme give young people the help they need to look after their mental health.
We're also here for parents, through projects like Parent Talk, our online support service.
What we've achieved
- 551,400: the number of children, young people and families we helped in 2024/25
- 342: the number of Action for Children services across the UK, in schools and online
- 50,869: the number of children reached with mental health support in 2024/25
- 484,650: the number of children, young people and families reached by our family support services, including Parent Talk, in 2024/25
- Over 2,000,000: the number of children and young people we've helped since 1869
All this is only possible thanks to the support of people like you.
Where your money goes
Your donations help us to support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the UK.
84p of every £1* we spend goes directly towards helping children, young people and their families. Your support is so important right now because levels of financial hardship, abuse and neglect have been rising. We’ve seen a huge surge in demand for our services. Your donations help us to run these essential services, which give vulnerable children and families a vital lifeline.
We make sure that every penny you donate goes where it will have the greatest impact on children’s lives.
Most of the donations we receive from our campaigns are unrestricted. This means they’re not spent on one project or one specific area of the UK, but where the need is greatest. We wouldn’t be able to operate as a charity without this type of income. Unrestricted funds help us reach the children and young people who need us most. Funds raised from this appeal will be unrestricted and used by Action for Children for its general charitable purposes. Please see the Our Work and Impact for examples of the work we do to help children and young people and their families.
* Figure based on audited 2024/25 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries.
Why regular donations matter
Donating a small amount every month by direct debit helps us give vulnerable children the stability they need. Our regular supporters help us carry out long-term work and keep vital projects running.
