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, Mentoring & Advocacy

Every Child Needs a Mentor (ECNM)

Every Child Needs a Mentor is a specialist child and human development organisation dedicated to helping people become who they are capable of becoming. Established in 2013 and building on practice that began in 2009, it works across education, social care, youth justice and the wider community, partnering with local authorities, schools, charities and families to improve outcomes, especially for those who have experienced adversity or the care system. Known first for its pioneering mentoring, ECNM has grown into a broader relationship-centred practice that builds confidence, identity, resilience and belonging. Alongside direct work it develops professional frameworks and standards that strengthen the wider children’s workforce. As an Action Hub, it is committed to sharing knowledge and influencing positive change.

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  • Education

University College Birmingham

University College Birmingham opens higher and further education to learners from every background, with a long-standing commitment to widening participation and social mobility. From further education to postgraduate study across business, health, hospitality, computing and the creative industries, UCB serves a diverse community including many from underrepresented groups. As a Care-Experienced Action Hub, it commits to welcoming and supporting care-experienced students, with dedicated wellbeing, financial, academic, careers and disability support designed to remove barriers. Backed by its Investors in Diversity accreditation, UCB works to ensure care-experienced learners can access opportunities, belong, and succeed.

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  • Employment & Skills, Sport & Activity

Bikeworks

Bikeworks is a community-grown social enterprise that uses the bicycle as a tool for good across London. Its services include cycle training for adults and in schools, with dedicated SEND provision, plus accredited and non-accredited learning as a City & Guilds centre. Each year, across seven inclusive cycling hubs, it delivers thousands of cycling experiences for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, alongside bespoke sessions shaped around each person’s needs. Based in the Olympic Park in East London, Bikeworks turns cycling into a route to skills, health and independence.

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  • Health & Wellbeing, Mentoring & Advocacy

Summit

Summit is one of Essex’s longest-standing mental health charities, founded in 1976 as Tendring Mental Health Support in Clacton-on-Sea. As advocacy became a profession through the 1980s and 1990s, Summit trained in legislation and human rights and played a key role in helping people leave long-stay hospitals and be heard in decisions about their care. Renamed SUMMIT in 2017, its mission is to advocate for empowerment and support independence. It restores control, confidence and self-belief, helping vulnerable people find their voice, stand up for their rights and shape their own futures through compassionate, face-to-face support and genuine partnership.

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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.

Donate now

Learn our story