Save the Children UK

❗Earlier this week, the government announced a cut to the UK aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending. This is a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children, and the UK’s national interest. Foreign aid saves lives. We have every reason to be proud of it and the government should fearlessly protect it.

LGBT History Month is an opportunity to discover and celebrate LGBTQ+ stories. 🏳️🌈 A few months after the First World War, a 35-year-old woman started handing out leaflets in Trafalgar Square showing a shocking photo of two emaciated children, with the headline, 'Our blockade has caused this – millions of children are starving to death.' Her name was Eglantyne Jebb. She was arrested and tried for her protest against the impact of Britain’s post-war blockade of Germany and eastern Europe. At her trial she was found guilty, but the prosecuting counsel was so impressed with her that he offered to pay her £5 fine. It was the first donation to the charity she went on to found: Save the Children. She also established the first Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a legally-binding international agreement setting out the rights of every child. In her personal life, she was in love with Margaret Ada Keynes, and they wrote letters to one another for over 20 years. In one letter, she wrote: "I love you more than I can say." Margaret replied: "What is the pain of separation compared to the thrill and joy of the thought that you love me, and that we truly belong to each other, and that it can never be otherwise. I am devoted to you." #LGBTHM2025 #LGBTHistoryMonth

For Arsenii, a Young Peacemaker from Ukraine, this Monday marked a personal and challenging milestone. As we marked three years of conflict in his home country, Arsenii brought the impact of the war on children directly to Parliament.   In a meeting with MP Rachel Blake, Arsenii shared his experience of being a young Ukrainian living in London and called for greater education support for Ukrainian children and refugees. Arsenii also joined calls for the release of the #UkrainesMissingBillions, £2.3 billion which was acquired as a result of the sale of Chelsea Football Club by its owner Roman Abramovich. This money is required to be spent on humanitarian purposes, helping all victims of the war in Ukraine, wherever they are in the world. It is not often that MPs speak directly with children and young people impacted by war, let alone on such a significant date. Arsenii is hopeful that his words will resonate and be shared far and wide, including in tomorrow’s debate in parliament on the anniversary of the war. We will continue to place the voices and experience of young people at the centre of our influencing efforts, and elevate the advocacy of our Young Peacemakers, whose words will have a greater significance than adults alone ever would.

Yesterday, we met with key leaders at Westminster to discuss how the UK can invest in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen global health resilience and save lives together. An investment in Gavi means immunising 500 million children, preventing the deaths of 8-9 million people by 2030. We’re calling on the UK Government to maintain full funding to protect the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases. The health of future generations hangs in the balance.

Has anyone seen #UkrainesMissingBillions? Because the children of Ukraine haven't. In June 2022, Chelsea Football Club was sold by its owner Roman Abramovich for £2.3 billion. This money is required to be spent on humanitarian purposes, helping all victims of the war in Ukraine, wherever they are in the world. But since then it’s been sitting gathering dust (and interest), while Ukrainian children suffered the worst effects of the conflict. The UK Government has a huge opportunity to step up and release the missing Ukraine money to help millions of children survive and recover. Why aren’t they taking it? More: https://bit.ly/3QuxVAD

Earlier today the government announced a cut to the UK aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending. 12 years ago, we released this video to show how aid protects children in the toughest situations. Now, the message is more important than ever.

A statement from our CEO Moazzam Malik on the news that the government is cutting the UK aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending: “We are stunned by this decision to cut the aid budget in order to increase military spending. It is a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children and the UK’s national interest. By jeopardising the UK’s partnership with countries across the world and international organisations, it signals a withdrawal from efforts to tackle climate change, global poverty and inequality, and conflict and humanitarian needs. It will damage efforts to tackle global health needs and pandemics. It will add to economic instability internationally. The impacts will have direct consequences for children and families in the UK as well as around the world. “This decision comes at a time when global solidarity has never been more important. Other countries will watch the UK’s decision and are likely to follow suit in reducing commitments to international collaboration. It will undermine aspirations to build a ‘rules based order’ that is so essential for the UK’s long-term security and prosperity. It will make the world a more dangerous place for children now and in the future. This decision flies in the face of the government’s commitment to respectful partnerships with the global south. There is nothing respectful about slashing lifelines for families in the most dangerous places. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister promised to ‘stand with Ukraine’. Now he’s serving notice on the support needed by the country’s children, who have been forced from their homes, seen their schools bombed and lived in fear for three years. Through UK aid, we all help protect children facing the worst the world has to offer. We have every reason to be proud of it and the government should fearlessly protect it.”

Have you seen the missing Ukraine billions? Because we haven’t – and neither have the children of Ukraine. In June 2022, Chelsea Football Club was sold by its owner Roman Abramovich for £2.3 billion. This money is required to be spent on humanitarian purposes, helping all victims of the war in Ukraine, wherever they are in the world. But since then it’s been sitting gathering dust (and interest), while Ukrainian children suffered the worst effects of the conflict. We don’t know why this Chelsea Fund hasn’t been released. The UK Government says “it’s complicated” but despite being asked time and time again over the last three years, no-one can give a direct answer. What isn’t complicated is that the government is sitting on billions of pounds that should be helping children affected by the war. And they’re hoping no-one notices. Full scale war in Ukraine has been shattering children’s lives for three years. But the current conversations about Ukraine’s future are completely ignoring their needs. The UK Government has a huge opportunity to step up and release the missing Ukraine money to help millions of children survive and recover. Why aren’t they taking it? Share this post, tag David Lammy and ask where are #UkrainesMissingBillions? Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3QuxVAD

We’re devastated that it has been confirmed that two Israeli children, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, were killed whilst being held hostage by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. We condemn all acts of violence against children in the strongest terms. No parent or family should have to go through this agony. Every war is a war against children. All perpetrators of grave violations against children must be held accountable for their actions.

When childhoods are shattered by war, how can recovery even begin to start? One essential step in emotional healing is self expression. Art activities can provide an opportunity for children to explore emotions, conflicts, wishes and dreams. So, when school or recreational settings are closed due to violence or instability, we prioritise setting up learning and recreational spaces to provide children with space to express themselves. Find out how you can support children traumatised by war and disaster: https://bit.ly/415Gh6z #StopTheWarOnChildren