For every £1 we spend, 84p helps children and families
They weren’t being fed. Jackson would sneak biscuits during the night to feed his brother
David, Action for Children Service Team Leader
Jackson and his brother were brought into care by the police when they were just six. They were living in miserable conditions and experiencing extreme neglect. Their parents didn’t provide food for them.
“It’s heartbreaking to think there are thousands of boys and girls throughout the UK in need of help and support. That’s why we need organisations like Action for Children who can give children a safe and happy childhood.”
David, Action for Children Service Team Leader
Your help could protect a child like Jackson.
Jackson is now in a safe and loving home. He no longer has to look after his brother and can just be a child. We know there are many more children who are suffering but we can only reach them with your help.
Neglect is one of the most harmful threats to children’s wellbeing. Our frontline teams step in to support the most vulnerable children. With your help, a child facing neglect could be given warmth, security and the chance to feel cared for.
*We have changed Jackson’s name and used an actor for his protection.
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
We’ve been helping children for more than 150 years. In 2024/25 we helped 551,400 children, young people and families. This was only possible with your support.
- Since 1869 we’ve helped more than two million children and young people.
- 50,869: the number of people reached with mental health support in 2024/25.
- 484,650: the number of children, young people and families reached by our family support services in 2024/25.
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.
For every £1 we spend, 84p helps children and families
