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.

  • Education, Financial Capability

WizeUp Financial Education

WizeUp gives young people the money skills school never taught them. Established in 2011 and a registered charity since 2020, it was founded by Ed Flack after his own children struggled with money on leaving school, and is now led by his son Michael. WizeUp delivers funded, face-to-face workshops in schools, colleges, PRUs and SEND settings, covering budgeting, saving, tax and payslips, credit scores, student loans, apprenticeships and how to avoid scams. Every session turns complex finance into practical, everyday confidence, so no young person is pushed towards debt or exclusion for want of knowing better.

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  • Mentoring & Advocacy

The Young Lives Foundation

The Young Lives Foundation is an award-winning independent children’s charity based in Kent, established in 2007. It supports vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including children in care, care leavers and young people at risk of exclusion, through advocacy, mentoring and befriending. Its independent advocates make sure children in care understand their rights and are heard in decisions about their placements, education and care planning, while trained volunteer mentors help build trust, confidence and resilience. Its Futures Care Leavers Programme supports the move into independent adulthood with one-to-one mentoring, employability and life-skills. Working across Kent and Medway, it plays a vital role for children in care and care leavers.

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  • Employment & Skills, Financial Capability

Skills 2 Thrive

Skills 2 Thrive is a digital life skills platform built for care-experienced young people. Founded by social worker Dougie Stringer, who brings both lived experience and over a decade of frontline practice, it delivers bite-sized, video-led modules on the things that matter most: money management, housing and tenancy readiness, employment, health, resilience and independent living. Young people learn at their own pace on any device, with quizzes and certificates to mark progress. It works alongside local authorities, fostering agencies and supported accommodation providers to complement existing support, not replace it.

  • Health & Wellbeing, Housing, SEND

FitzRoy

FitzRoy is a national charity supporting people with some of the most complex learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, across more than 100 specialist homes and community centres in England. It believes everyone deserves the chance to live the life they choose, in a real home and as part of their community. What makes FitzRoy special is its people, who take the time to know every person they support, their strengths, ambitions and routines, and shape bespoke support around them. The charity began more than 65 years ago when Elizabeth FitzRoy wanted something better for her son than institutional care. From its Assistive Technology Library to its work preventing the cuckooing of vulnerable people, it keeps finding new ways to help people live richer, more independent lives.

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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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Learn our story