Building Happier Futures
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.
HOW WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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.”
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.”
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."
Our long term commitment
Taking the next steps
We’re helping young people from care into education and work. Because caring shouldn’t stop at 18.
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.
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%)
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.
Ensuring children in care and care experienced young people have a safe and happy childhood and the foundations to thrive.
A national voluntary organisation that gives a voice to care experienced young people and care leavers across Scotland.
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