Building Happier Futures

Help give a happier future to young people from care - Donate now

108,000 young people are growing up in the UK’s care system without the same opportunities as their peers. This means that when they reach 19, they’re three times less likely to be in education, training or have a job.

We believe that needs to change, so we’ve launched our Building Happier Futures programme, in partnership with Action for Children and Who Cares? Scotland. Scroll down to find out what we’re doing – or click below to donate now.

John Lewis Partnership | Action For Children | Who Cares Scotland
1.1 million raised – A big thank you!

A BIG
THANK YOU!
With your support, we’ve raised an amazing £1.1m to help young people from care. And you can still donate. 

A BIG THANK YOU!
Over Christmas, you raised an amazing £1.1m to help young people from care. And you can still donate.

A BIG

THANK YOU!

Over Christmas, you raised an amazing £1.1m to help young people from care. And you can still donate.

Donate now

Donate online

Please give what you can to provide practical help and support to children and young people who have experienced the care system. 

Donate now

HOW WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE 

Who Cares? Scotland - A visit from Santa
Who Cares? Scotland Logo

A visit from Santa

Over Christmas, Building Happier Futures paid for festive projects including an appearance from Santa at a baby group for new parents from care.

Louise Hunter from Who Cares? Scotland says it was fantastic to be able to invite Santa to visit the group. 

“The impact of creating memories that can be cherished for a lifetime is invaluable to our members, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. We want to say a massive thank you for giving our mothers and babies a Christmas memory they’ll never forget.”

Who Cares? Scotland -Support for foster carers
Action for children Logo

Support for foster carers

One of the ongoing projects supported by Building Happier Futures is Wrap, an Action for Children service that helps children and young people and their foster carers.

Adrienne Cronin from Action for Children says they are using the funding to pay for therapeutic support to stop foster placements breaking down.

“Foster carers learn to better recognise the child’s emotions, making them feel safe and helping to build positive relationships.”

Building Happier Futures - Briggit and Yvonne's story
Building Happier Futures - Briggit and Yvonne's story

Briggit and Yvonne's story

How kindness and friendship changed the life of a child in care

At the age of seven, Briggit came to London from Ghana, with her teenage sister and dad. The two girls were left with their parent’s friend, who had no legal responsibility for them, and they never heard from their dad again. They were soon placed in care and lived with a foster carer who Briggit, now 28, describes as an “amazing lady” she is still in touch with.

Yvonne was matched with Briggit through Action for Children’s Independent Visitor scheme – a service which connects children in care with an adult volunteer, giving them the opportunity to build a trusting and supportive relationship through regular contact. For their first trip together, Yvonne took Briggit to the Science Museum, and the pair hit it off right away.

Briggit explains: "There was going to be an astronaut doing a talk on the day, and I was so excited for it. At the end he asked people to come up to get their books signed and Yvonne encouraged me to go up. From our initial meeting, there was something very motherly about her that I liked, and it’s been like that ever since."

Now, 19 years since that first trip, Yvonne and Briggit have an unbreakable bond, something which they both describe as a ‘mother and daughter’ type of relationship. "Yvonne has been that mother figure for me ever since I first got to know her. She’s supported me all the way through, and I feel truly blessed, because a lot of people in my situation don’t get that."

Building Happier Futures - Tote Bag

Totes for a happier future

We’ll donate 25% of the sales from this tote bag to our Building Happier Futures fund. Pick one up in store or order online now. 

Buy now

Building Happier Futures - Tote Bag

Totes for a happier future

We’ll donate 25% of the sales from this tote bag to our Building Happier Futures foundation. Pick one up in store or order online now. 

Buy now

Our long term commitment

Building Happier Futures - Donate Now

Taking the next steps

We’re helping young people from care into education and work. Because caring shouldn’t stop at 18.

Building Happier Futures - Donate Now

A bright future in the John Lewis Partnership

From our scholarship initiative to apprenticeships, we’re helping young people from care to find careers at John Lewis and Waitrose. 

Building Happier Futures - Donate Now

Speaking up for change

We’re asking those in power to ensure fairer policies for young people in the care communities. 

Photographs are posed by models to protect the identities of the young people we’re supporting.

Waitrose will donate 25% of the retail price profits from each product sold to the following charities in the proportions listed: Action for Children (Registered Charity Number: 1097940; Scotland Registered Charity Number: SC038092)(70%) and Who Cares? Scotland (Registered Charity Number: SC026076) (30%)

Purple Background

Our charity partners

Along with Action for Children and Who Cares? Scotland, we’re working to create a happier future for young people from care. 

Action For Children Logo

Ensuring children in care and care experienced young people have a safe and happy childhood and the foundations to thrive.

Who Cares? Scotland Logo

A national voluntary organisation that gives a voice to care experienced young people and care leavers across Scotland.

Background colour

MORE like this

 Brilliant Breakfasts

Host Breakfast, change lives

We’re proud to support The Brilliant Breakfast, which raises money to help The Prince’s Trust change young women’s lives.

Find out more

The Prince’s Countryside Fund

Support for rural communities

The Prince’s Countryside Fund receives an annual donation from the sale of Duchy Organic products.

Find out more

 Create Not Hate

Create not hate

We’re working with non-profit organisation Create Not Hate to unlock the potential of young people who are underrepresented in the creative industries. 

Find out more