Rebuilding what the system broke

It’s every child’s birthright to grow up in a loving, secure home.

Every child deserves to belong, to feel valued and to have their voice heard. No child should feel abandoned or neglected.

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Registered charity in England & Wales

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No. 1207064

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Founded by Fatima Whitbread MBE

The people behind it

Who's behind the campaign

Together we are creating a care system where every child feels safe, valued and able to thrive.

Fatima spent the first 14 years of her life in the care system before being fostered and adopted by her coach, Margaret Whitbread. She went on to break the world javelin record and win World and European titles. Drawing on her lived experience, she founded Fatima's UK Campaign to champion the nurturing support, stability and opportunities every child in care deserves, helping them build a brighter future.

Gina brings more than four decades of experience, including over 20 years leading an award-winning school and since 2005 developing leaders at every level. She empowers individuals, teams, and organisations to lead with integrity, compassion, and courage.

Together, they're working to change how the system treats every child who passes through it.

More about us

Why we exist

For too long, the UK care system has failed too many children and young people.

Many leave care without the support, stability or hope they need to build a secure future. They face homelessness, mental health crises and unemployment, often because the people and services around them fell short when they needed them most. Every young person deserves the chance to feel safe, supported and hopeful about what lies ahead.

This is not an easy challenge to solve, but young people cannot wait. Lived experience has shown us what that costs. Fatima's UK Campaign is bringing people together to turn that experience into practical action and better opportunities for children in care and care leavers.

“No more excuses. No more waiting. Young people need action now. Together, let’s change the story for those growing up in care.”

The scale of the challenge

0 K+

children in the UK care system today

1 in 3

care leavers face homelessness within two years

0 %

of care leavers are not in education, work or training

0 %

of children in care for over 12 months achieve a grade 4+ in English and maths at GCSE

Better Futures, Built Together

Our Action Hubs bring communities, carers, employers and decision-makers together to create real opportunities for young people.

  • Arts, Mentoring & Advocacy, Sport & Activity

ATF

Since 2012, ATF has worked with communities and young people at risk of exclusion, creating safe spaces, opportunity and wellbeing. Using sport, art, heritage and culture, it builds a sense of togetherness and has driven down anti-social behaviour in the areas it serves. Its place-based approach follows asset-based community development principles, running Discovery Days that put local people in the lead and reach the neighbourhoods and cohorts most often overlooked. Working alongside residents, schools, councils, the Probation Service and housing associations, ATF supports young people from age 5 to 24, and its work reclaiming spaces such as Northlands Park shows what communities can achieve when they lead.

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  • Employment & Skills, Mentoring & Advocacy

Cumbria Youth Alliance

Cumbria Youth Alliance works with and for young people so they can reach their potential, with extra, consistent support for those with care experience. As both a delivery organisation and the county’s lead youth sector body, CYA reaches over 1,500 young people a year and supports more than 260 youth organisations. Its Leaving Care Transition Project and Care Leavers Hub, run with Cumberland Council, blend mentoring, independent living skills and practical support. Operating across one of England’s most rural counties, CYA has built a place-based model that overcomes isolation and transport barriers, offering a rural approach that complements the urban Action Hubs.

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  • Education, Employment & Skills, Sport & Activity

SCL

SCL delivers education with the energy, discipline and creativity of elite sport. Founded in 1999, its Ofsted-regulated college combines academic study with enrichment in sport, business and the performing arts, giving second chances to some of the hardest-to-reach young people who are NEET. Its Skills Group division runs apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 6, short courses and bootcamps that develop confident, capable professionals. SCL has shaped the futures of over 20,000 young people across the UK and grown talent inside major brands from Amazon and B&Q to BrewDog, using a Sports-Centred Learning approach that helps learners think like athletes and perform like high achievers.

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  • Health & Wellbeing

Help Counselling

Help Counselling makes professional therapy available without the usual barriers: no waiting lists, no GP referral, no cap on sessions. For over 50 years this registered charity has been a sanctuary for adults facing anxiety, depression, grief and relationship challenges. Its approach suits care leavers especially well, offering consistent, long-term support that does not age out or disappear. Clients self-refer to open-ended weekly sessions with ethically minded, BACP-registered therapists, many multilingual and experienced with neurodivergence and gender and sexuality. Sessions run Monday to Saturday, online or across central and west London, with fees from £30 and a £20 student rate.

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View all our hubs

One Voice Summit

Shaping Solutions Together

Delegates, contributors and exhibitors came together to share their experiences, look ahead and find practical solutions to improve outcomes for children and young people in care.

The Summit focused on what needs to happen next, and how we can make it happen together. Explore the sessions and read the draft white paper to see the ideas and solutions that came out of it.

Watch the sessions

News

What we're working on

All news

Join us in creating a care system which works for every child.

Join the partnership and help us deliver what every child and young person deserves: A loving, caring and secure home.

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