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.

  • Housing

St Basils

St Basils is both a charity and a registered housing association, with over 50 years of providing accommodation and support to young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk, including those who are care-experienced. Ofsted registered, it provides supported housing for 16 and 17 year old care leavers. St Basils refuses to let the stereotypes of homelessness define a young person, giving them the safety, stability and skills to picture a different future and reach it. Community-based in the West Midlands, it also works nationally to challenge the systemic barriers that exclude young people.

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  • Employment & Skills, Health & Wellbeing, Mentoring & Advocacy

Ingeus

Ingeus works every day with people who have faced significant challenges, and it knows many of them have experience of the care system. Across justice, youth, employment and health services, it sees both the barriers care-experienced people can face and the strengths, resilience and potential they bring. Ingeus believes no one should be defined by their past, and that with the right support positive change is always possible. It is launching a Care-Experienced Mentoring Programme at HMP Ranby, offering tailored mentoring to help care-experienced people in custody build confidence and access education, training and employment. As an Action Hub, Ingeus wants to raise awareness, amplify care-experienced voices and help strengthen the support around them.

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  • Arts

JAM Performing Arts

Founded in 2000, JAM Performing Arts has built a stellar reputation for nurturing young people through dance and performance, supporting every student from first steps at age two to a professional career. Through expertly designed classes, dedicated teachers and a warm environment, students gain far more than technique: confidence, resilience and life skills. Known to students and families as the JAM Family, it knows every young person personally and tailors their progress to their own effort, growth and maturity. With a proven track record of students moving into performing arts careers and leading dance schools, JAM is a community where creativity flourishes and confidence grows.

  • Employment & Skills, Sport & Activity

Essex Cricket

Essex Cricket opens the doors of a professional sports club to care-experienced young people, with a mission to help every individual fly like an Eagle. It creates real-life experience and opportunities in a safe, supportive environment where young people can explore their own goals. That might mean an apprenticeship in the community team, out creating engaging experiences and building local cohesion, or an intern and work experience day at the ground, from matchday stewarding to joining the activation teams. Driven by the ground and the teams who play there, Essex Cricket acts as an inspirational hub for the whole region.

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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