Posted on January 14th 2025 by Millie Barrow
Tagged: Newsletter

Tackling Child Poverty in 2025

As we reach the halfway point of January, the reality of our December spending often begins to set in. Whether it was on presents, saying yes to too many social events, or turning up the heating to keep the family warm, many of us will find a way to make it through the month with heating, hot water, and bills paid. But for low-income families, the aftermath of December brings a stark reality filled with difficult decisions: How will I feed my children? Can I afford to turn on the heating? What happens when there’s nothing left? 

For families living in poverty in London, January often brings severe hardship. The pressure to create picture-perfect festivities for children is immense, with expectations to provide gifts, special meals, and exciting outings. The desire to ensure children feel equal to their peers can push families into financial strain that is difficult to recover from. As a result, many struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, hot water, and rent. For hundreds of thousands of children in London, these daily challenges are even more acute during this challenging time of year. 

So, how do we tackle this in 2025?  

In November, we launched the #WinterWithoutWonder campaign to address these urgent needs. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and the support of celebrities who helped amplify our message. we raised over £34,000 in just seven weeks. We are also immensely grateful to London’s Metropolitan Police, whose ongoing fundraising efforts added £15,000 to our appeal, making a huge difference to ensure London’s children are safe in London and have a chance at a brighter future.  

These funds will have a direct impact on children's lives through our Transforming Spaces Programme and London Charity Partner Network, helping to ensure every child has access to a happy, healthy, and safe childhood. 

As we carry this momentum into 2025, we’d like to pass the mic to our dedicated teams at The Childhood Trust to share their visions and goals for the year ahead.

Transforming Spaces

“In 2024, we transformed 43 bedrooms in London, providing a safe, inspiring, and joyful  space for children and helping families like Rochelle, “(I’m) really happy with the work done in my children’s bedrooms. It has become their new safe space and generally is comfortable for them to enjoy... They now have better sleeps at night and generally spend most of their time in there.” But to continue achieving this, we need your help! We are looking for more volunteers to dedicate time to this life-changing programme. If you work for an organisation passionate about giving back, consider volunteering with us — you can make a difference in less than 24 hours.”

- Beth Adams, Volunteer Programme Manager

Get involved

London Charity Partner Network

“135 projects are actively being delivered by our London Charity Partner Network as we speak, aiming to impact the lives of 385,000 young people. We’re also excited to announce that our Champions for Children 2025 applications are officially open and we’re inviting London-based charities working to combat child poverty to join our network and unlock our matched funding. If that sounds like you or a charity you may know, please click below to find out how they can get involved.”

- Yashi Singh, Campaigns Manager

Apply for funding

Fundraising and Partnerships

"As we begin the year, our team is focused on building long-term partnerships to secure the sustainable funding needed for our essential programmes. We’re thrilled to continue with our flagship partners like the Bank of England and Javelin, whilst also welcoming new ones with Vitol being our latest joiner.

Partnerships like these are vital to help us achieve our strategic goals and improve the lives of London's most vulnerable children. We’re always open to new partnerships, so if you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved, don’t hesitate to get in touch!"

– Lisa Romanova, Director of Development

Learn More

Make a lasting impact on a child’s life in 2025

The number of children living in extreme hardship in London has more than doubled since 2017, with 700,000 children now living below the poverty line and 80,000 currently homeless. At The Childhood Trust, we are committed to alleviating the impact of poverty on children and supporting community programmes across all London boroughs. Your donation can help ensure every child in London has a chance at a brighter future in 2025.

Donate Today

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