Children’s Society

The Children’s Society was founded in 1881 and is a leading national charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK.  Our network of community-based projects provide targeted, immediate and lasting help for children who feel excluded, isolated or abandoned; children who live in a vicious circle of fear and harm, and who are faced with danger and disadvantage in their daily lives.

Our schools work, children’s centres and mentoring schemes help many more children avoid crisis by developing the skills and confidence they need to challenge and overcome difficult situations.  We create real change through our research and campaigning by influencing the thinking of everyone – from the general public to politicians and decision makers – about how to make childhood better.

How your support makes a difference…  Helen was 14-years-old when she became heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. She was also truanting and spending a lot of time wandering around London. Her mother, Julie, was worried about her health and safety so she called the Essex Young People’s Drugs and Alcohol Service (EYPDAS) for support.

Helen had been sexually abused the previous year and although her abuser had been arrested she refused to talk about what had happened to her. EYPDAS supported Julie via the phone for 3 months, looking at ways she could encourage Helen to talk to someone.

Eventually, after encouragement from her mother, Helen called the project worker and within three days had her first counselling session. After a year of regular counselling from EYPDAS and the support of her family, Helen is attending school, getting good grades, her health has greatly improved and she is putting into practice what she learned in her counselling sessions.

With your help we can raise vital funds to support our community based projects to provide immediate and lasting help for children like Helen.