In the UK, one in five children have a probable mental health disorder.
Last year, Action for Children supported 54,878 children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing. Our services include intensive one-to-one support and counselling, as well as group work and practical confidence-building activities.
We know there are many other children who are suffering. And we need you to reach them. With your help, we could provide intensive one-to-one support to a child suffering from mental health issues.
Will you stop a child from being broken by sadness?
When I was 18 I was diagnosed with depression. I didn’t want to live anymore.
Angharad
Angharad was two years old when she was removed from the care of her parents for her own safety and placed into foster care. Her turbulent upbringing left Angharad with anxiety and depression.
Children who are hungry are more likely to experience mental health problems. This is only worsening with the rising cost of living.
“It was heartbreaking to realise a 10 year old was worrying about the cost of living.”
Natasha, Action for Children supported parent
50% of those with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14. And that’s why we focus our work on early intervention - not waiting until there’s a serious problem.
“Jack is the eldest so understands more, he knows what's going on. He gets stressed, because he goes in the cupboards and can see when things are running low.”
Angela, Action for Children supported parent
Action for Children helps children and young people to build the mental resilience they need to cope with life's many pressures. We provide intensive one-to-one support and counselling, as well as group work and confidence building activities, tailoring all support to help young people to face their own challenges.
Together, we can support even more children and young people on their journey to better mental health.
More about our work supporting children's mental health
What Action for Children does
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 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 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.
- 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.
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.
