An incredible response to the cost-of-living crisis

With the cost-of-living crisis tightening its grip on many households over the winter, our mission to alleviate the impact of child poverty has never felt so urgent.  

As we approached what should be a joyous occasion for all children, our research findings revealed a worrying rise in food poverty. An alarming 40% of the children surveyed had experienced food insecurity in the previous month. Many parents who were already struggling with the difficult decision of whether to heat or eat were increasingly unable to afford neither. Their children suffering in silence as they learned to manage their chronic hunger pains. 

The Independent, ITV News, Metro and Big Issue journalists all covered our report on the impact of food insecurity on school aged children. The press coverage reached millions spreading awareness of the devastating impact the cost-of-living crisis was having on children in our capital. 

Christmas Challenge campaign

Our donors and supporters responded with an incredible outpouring of generosity. Our annual Christmas Challenge campaign raised a record breaking £4M, helping to fund 98 charity projects that will support 192,000 children over the next 12 months. The funds raised will provide vital emotional and practical support with warm safe spaces to play, nutritious meals, wellbeing support, mentoring, inspiring opportunities and so much more. 

On the Breadline Appeal in partnership with the Evening Standard

As spiralling costs of living put families under increased financial pressure to make ends meet, we joined forces with the Evening Standard and the Independent to run the On the Breadline Cost-of-Living Appeal. Between 28th November and 9th December, donations from readers along with The Childhood Trust supporters and partners, were matched by The Ethos Foundation, raising an incredible £1.3M. The funding will be targeted at projects that are addressing health and wellbeing so that children are healthy, well-nourished and able to engage in learning to their full potential during this critical time. 

With special thanks to The Ethos Foundation, Westminster Foundation, Neptune Energy, NEO Energy, Kingfisher plc, Wates Family Enterprise Trust, The Haberdashers’ Company, M&G and Federated Hermes, along with our major donors, for their support for the appeal. 

The Met Christmas Tree Gift Appeal

Londoners came out in force this year to ensure that over 16,400 children in London’s care system had a present to open on Christmas day. Our partner JBi Digital developed a new interactive website for the appeal this year, allowing supporters to choose from a range of gifts to donate to children who might otherwise go without.  Together we raised almost £90,000 in donations, along with books donated by Hachette, Michael O’Mara Books and Hardie Grant, and laptops from Beth’s Grammar School.  

With special thanks to our corporate donors: DWS, NEO Energy, Squire Patton Boggs, ABN Amro, XTX Markets, Bexley Safer Neighbourhoods, Rapid Response Team, Waverton Investment Management, Youngs & Co and Hunters & Frankau. 

This has been a truly incredible response from our supporters who have shown their unwavering support for children living in poverty this winter.  

Candace Reading