‘We are thrilled to be amplifying the voices of children’
Founded in 1869, Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people across the UK by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.
Rhys, 15, has lived in the charity’s Tan y Bryn residential home in north Wales for two years.
He went into care after experiencing neglect, but his time at Tan y Bryn has provided the stable childhood he had always longed for.
He has received encouragement and support from the staff, especially support worker Dave who formed a strong connection with Rhys from the start.
Now Rhys is doing well: he attends school full time, is a peer mentor for other children and is part of the school council. “I’ve got my own issues,” he says, “but it is quite good to know I can help other people, like I got help before from other people. It’s just quite nice to feel like they’ll go home feeling less terrible.”
Rhys is already thinking ahead: “[I’ll] hopefully be living by myself, [and] hopefully, further on in the future, owning my own restaurant,” he says.
Action for Children is witnessing at first hand how the cost of living crisis is affecting families. Nearly four million children in the UK live in poverty, while millions of parents struggle to access the early-years help they need.
The charity’s work includes the pioneering digital service “Parent Talk”, which is designed to address the needs of parents and carers. It also supports children in care and runs innovative mental health programmes in schools, plus others to steer young people away from organised crime.
“We hope our collaboration will help the wider public gain a better understanding of the issues facing children and young people in 2022,” says Melanie Armstrong, chief executive of Action for Children.
“We’re thrilled to be working with The Telegraph to amplify the voices of children and young people across the UK.”