A girl looking sad rests her head on her hands

My Christmas Appeal

Will you help a child like Zara living in poverty this Christmas and into the New Year?

Right now, roughly eight children in every classroom* across the UK are living in poverty, and many are facing a cold and hungry Christmas

A gift from you could help children and their families enjoy a brighter Christmas

This year’s Christmas Appeal is all about filling hungry tummies with nourishing food, providing warm clothes and bedding, and helping children experience a bit of Christmas fun and magic at a time when everything feels even more difficult for families living in poverty.

Families are facing another difficult winter.

Last year, parents had to choose between putting on the heating, or having a hot meal. After more than a year of rising costs and stretched budgets, some now can’t afford either.

Shockingly, one in four families will struggle to put food on the table this Christmas. They need your help.

With your donation, we can help children living in poverty at Christmas and beyond. We can make sure they are warm and well-fed, and can sleep safely in their own bed.

We can also provide ongoing support by helping to find suitable accommodation, and empowering families with access to longer term financial advice to set them up for a better future. 

Together we can change a childhood from hardship to happiness and, with it, change a life.

* Based on a classroom of 30 children. 

A girl looks sad as she rests her head on her hands
Christmas isn't Christmas when you're cold, hungry and left out

Zara

 8-year-old who Barnardo's supported last winter

Read how we use your donations to help children like Zara

  • We provide families with essentials

    Aliyah was struggling to afford nappies for her young children. We work with families like hers to help them get the essentials they need and make sure they can stay warm and safe. Read how Barnardo’s children’s centres and family hubs can make all the difference to families like this.

  • We help young carers stay warm

    Read how we work with Ellie-Mai, supporting her to take part in fun activities, providing potentially lifesaving training and helping her, and her mum, stay warm and fed through the winter. 

  • We enable families to build their futures

    Watch and read to learn how Barnardo's is helping Becky, a 31-year-old mum of two young children, with professional training and cost-of-living support through our Byker Sands Family Centre in North Tyneside.

Thank you for believing in children

For every pound we spend (excluding retail costs) approximately: 94p goes on working with the children and young people who need it most Less than 1p goes on investment management costs And the remaining amount – just over 5p - on raising the next £1 For full details of how we’re funded look at our latest annual report.

For every pound we spend (excluding retail costs) approximately:

  • 94p goes on working with the children and young people who need it most

  • Less than 1p goes on investment management costs

  • And the remaining amount – just over 5p - on raising the next £1

For full details of how we’re funded look at our latest annual report.

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Other ways to get involved this Christmas 

  • A girl sits on the floor under a blanket looking cold

    It’s not fair that more than one in four children in the UK live in poverty.

    Children deserve more than empty stomachs, sleepless nights, and cold homes.

  • A runner wearing a Barnardo's vest gives a thumbs up

    Take on a challenge


    Run, walk, climb or cycle with Team Barnardos and raise money to help children across the UK. You can do this!

  • A volunteer in a Barnardo's shop talks to a customer

    Our volunteers make what we do possible

    Whether helping customers in a shop, doing essential admin in the office or working directly with young people at a service, our volunteers make a huge difference to children’s lives.