A group of 4 people in front of Downing Street

Campaign with us

We know that many of you are worried about the future – which isn’t how it should be. That’s why all of us at Barnardo’s are determined to change the way the system works for you and countless children, young people and families across the UK.  

This means calling for changes to the law, policy, or practice that will improve children’s lives and the systems around them.  

We listen to the views of the children and young people we support, as well as the insights from our frontline services. We then make recommendations to the Government and other policymakers about how they can change children’s lives for the better. But we can't do this alone. 

You can make a difference. Get involved with our campaigns.

  • A young girl looks hungrily at some food

    More than one in four children in the UK are living in poverty

    This winter, our frontline staff helped struggling children and families by providing them with emergency support such as beds, access to food, and support with their mental wellbeing. 
    In the last year, our crisis support has helped more than 13,000 children and 7,200 families. With your support, we can continue our work helping families in financial hardship.

  • A teenage girl walking down a school corridor with a Barnardo's support worker

    Mental health needs to be supported in schools

    We want all children to be able to get help with their mental health if they need it. But school can be a stressful place that’s challenging to cope with. You can help us make sure every young person gets the support they need at school, so they can focus on growing and learning.

  • Two children sitting at a table

    Help us give children a seat at the table

    Every young person deserves to be heard - and be safe, happy, healthy and hopeful. We’re standing hand in hand with Action for Children, The Children’s Society, the National Children’s Bureau and the NSPCC, asking the next Prime Minister and Chancellor to champion children and young people.

Help children feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful

There are so many ways you can give young people a helping hand. Signing petitions, getting involved in campaigns, donating or just staying in the know about what it’s like to be growing up in 2024. And we’ve made it easy, by putting it all in our monthly community newsletter.

Changing things for the better

  • Actress Michelle Collins, Barnardo's CEO Lynn Perry and young people Jake and Dasha stand with a petition in front of the door of 10 Downing Street

    Imagine trying to focus on learning when your stomach keeps rumbling

    Actress Michelle Collins and Jake and Dasha who have worked with Barnardo's, helped us hand in a 32,000 strong petition calling for free school meals for all primary school children in England.

  • A group of young people stand by a bus

    What’s the difference between feeling isolated and feeling free?

    For a young person who has experienced care it’s being able to ride the bus. Our petition for free bus travel for them helped secure a debate in parliament and a visit by Transport Minister Richard Holden to find out more about our pilot scheme in Cornwall. It’s also been successful in persuading councils such as Cornwall and Birmingham to introduce their own local schemes. Next stop the whole of England!

  • A girl sits in the dark holding her head looking at a mobile phone

    Online pornography

    Viewing pornography and other pornographic content can have a big impact on young people and children. From their understanding of sex and relationships, to the way they think about their own bodies, it can negatively influence how they view the world around them. We estimate that children in the UK could access pornography over 50 million times in the next three years. We sent a letter to adult content organisation MindGeek calling for them to do more to keep children safe from harmful pornography. 

Find out more

  • Better childhoods start with better policies

    We call for improvements to the law, policy, or practice that will help change young people’s lives (and the systems that shape them) for the better.

  • Our blog

    If you want some advice on supporting a young person, or you want to know what our experts think about the issues affecting children today and how things can change for the better, our blog is a good place to start.

  • Your donation could change a young person’s life

    Donate today, or set up a regular donation to help support us continue our important work.