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For every £1 we spend, 84p goes towards helping vulnerable children and families

Action for Children have blown me away. They were there for emotional support and also making sure that we could pay our bills and eat.

Sarah, supported by Action for Children

4 million

children are living in poverty in the UK

That's 27%

of all children living in the UK

8 children

in every classroom

You can make a difference

Right now, 4 million children in the UK are growing up in families without enough money to make ends meet.

Your donation could help put food in the fridge, pay for essential bills, and help to protect children's mental health from the devastating impact of poverty.

See the impact your donations make

For every £1 we spend, 84p goes towards helping vulnerable children and families
Abby, a young girl, is doing therapy play crafts with her support worker. They are both smiling and laughing.

Why regular donations are so important

By setting up a direct debit and giving a monthly donation, you could make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children.

Donating a small amount each month means that together, we can provide support whenever a child needs our vital services.

Why Action for Children?

Through 342 services across the UK, we give vulnerable children, young people and families the protection and practical help they urgently need.

Alongside our work in local services, nurseries and schools, we campaign tirelessly for lasting change.

Driven by love, we take action so children don't miss out on a safe and happy childhood.

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 people reached by our family support services in 2024/25.

84p of every £1* we spend goes directly towards helping children, young people and their families.

Your donations help us to run essential services, which give vulnerable children and families a vital lifeline.

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.

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.

* Figure based on audited 2024/25 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries

Action for Children is a not-for-profit organisation. Any profit we make goes straight back into services that help children and families. It doesn’t go to shareholders or investors.

As a charity, we have to keep some funds in reserve. This protects the families we support, as well as our staff and volunteers. It means there’s a pool of money we can call on in an emergency.

The children we support are surviving on the bare minimum of food, clothing, and warmth - all the things so many of us take for granted. They are literally starving... you never get used to it.

Helen, Action for Children Service Coordinator

Make a difference.

Donate now

Other ways to donate

  • Contact us via email and someone from our Supporter Care team will get back to you.

    Email us
  • Our Supporter Care team are available via phone 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

    Call 0300 123 2112