For every £1 we spend, 84p goes directly towards helping children and families
4 million
children in the UK live in poverty*.
That's 27%
of all children living in the UK
For those 1 in 3 children growing up in poverty, winter can feel never-ending.
From living in a damp house that doesn’t feel like home and struggling to sleep in the bitter cold, to coming home from school to an empty fridge or clutching their broken toy, knowing they might not get another.
Behind closed doors, parents are making impossible choices between putting the heating on and putting food on the table. Choosing which necessity to forgo.
And in winter, our frontline staff see more children struggling with anxiety, loneliness, and depression than at any other time of year.
Many vulnerable children will need our support in 2026.
You could help.
“Families are having to decide between food and heating. Some children go to school hungry. Even families that have two working parents need to access food banks and financial support. It means that the children are at a disadvantage because their basic care needs aren’t being met."
Sonia, Programme Lead, Action for Children Family Support Team
Last Christmas, Secret Santa's like you helped children feel the magic – full plates, warm coats, and presents that meant the world.
Your kindness didn’t end at Christmas, neither do children’s needs. Donate now and you could help a vulnerable child feel safe and warm through the darkest months.
Thanks to generous people like you, we helped over half a million children last year, not just at Christmas but 365 days of the year.
More about our work
For every £1 we spend, 84p goes directly towards helping children and families
