For every £1 we spend, 85p helps children and families
The magic of Christmas begins in childhood. Hanging stockings. Sharing festive food. Presents under the tree. It’s a time for children to feel loved and make memories that last a lifetime.
But for vulnerable children across the UK, Christmas is anything but magical. No stockings. No presents. No festive food - maybe no food at all.
That year I was so worried about how I was going to make it magical for the children. There were times we didn't have enough money for basics like food let alone presents. At one point we didn’t even have a loaf of bread!
Thomas' mother, supported by Action for Children
687,755
We helped 687,755 children and families in 2023/24
372 services
We run 372 services in local communities across the UK
For every £1 we spend, 85p helps children and families
Why regular donations are so important
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. A small monthly donation could make a very big difference to a child who needs our help.
What does Action for Children do?
We are a charity that protects and supports children and young people. We do this by providing practical and emotional care. We make sure their voices are heard. And we campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives.
Today, we run 372 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 2023/24 we helped 687,755 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.
- 54,878: the number of people reached with mental health support in 2023/24.
- 468,786: the number of people reached by our online parenting advice service, Parent Talk, in 2023/24.
Where your money goes
Your donations help us to support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the UK.
85p 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 2023/24 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries
We’re a not-for-profit organisation
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.
For every £1 we spend, 85p helps children and families
Action for Children have blown me away with the enormity of their support. The difference it’s made has been incredible. They were there for emotional support and also making sure that we could pay our bills and eat.
Sarah, supported by Action for Children
Your donation helps us support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the UK.
85p of every £1* we spend goes directly towards helping children, young people and their families. We make sure that every penny you donate goes where it will have the greatest impact on children’s lives. Donations from this campaign will be unrestricted and used by Action for Children for its general charitable purposes. That means they’re not spent on one project or one specific area of the UK, but where the need is greatest.
*Figure based on audited 2023/24 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries.
