Quick facts about your donation
- 86p in every £1 goes directly to helping children
- We can claim an additional 25p in Gift Aid for every £1 you donate at no cost to you- making your donation worth £1.25
- Our UK programmes supported over 375,000 children and families in 2024
- We've been working for children for over 100 years, delivering lasting change in every major humanitarian crisis since World War I
Umal, 9, playing with her twin brothers Hassan and Hussein, 6-months, inside their home in Somali Region, Ethiopia.
How we spend your donation
What your money achieves
Every donation - whether a one-off gift or regular monthly contribution - funds our work across six key areas:
- Emergency response: When crisis strikes, we're there within 72 hours. In 2024, we spent £95 million responding to conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, and natural disasters including drought in Zimbabwe. This included providing clean water, food, shelter, medical care and child-friendly spaces where children can feel safe.
- Education: We spent £65 million ensuring children can learn, even in the toughest circumstances. In Myanmar, we reached over 43,000 students in conflict-affected areas. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we helped 60,000 children who were out of school - including teenage mothers and children with disabilities - access education.
- Health: £36 million went towards giving children a healthy start in life. We launched vaccination programmes in Ethiopia and Nigeria, home to over 3 million unvaccinated children. In Kenya, our community health workers screened and treated 1,300 malnourished children.
- Protection: We invested £17 million protecting children from violence and abuse. In Somalia, we established safe houses and trained 517 health workers to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. In Sierra Leone, our advocacy helped pass a new law prohibiting child marriage.
- Nutrition: £20 million funded programmes tackling child malnutrition. In Malawi, we provided cash grants and nutrition support to 42,000 households, helping families afford nutritious food during economic shocks.
- Livelihoods: We spent £17 million strengthening families' ability to support themselves. This includes helping communities adapt to climate change and building resilience against future crises.
Our commitment to transparency
As outlined in our 2024 Annual Report, our total income was £305 million and our total spend was £309 million. Here's exactly how we allocated every pound:
86p goes directly to charitable work, including:
- International and UK programmes
- Emergency response
- Advocacy and campaigning
- Programme support and monitoring
13p funds fundraising and communications, which includes:
- Reaching new supporters
- Managing donations and Gift Aid claims
- Digital systems that make donating easier
- Shops that raise vital unrestricted funding
1p covers governance and administration, including:
- Financial management and auditing
- Legal compliance
- Safeguarding
- Technology and security
This spending breakdown reflects our commitment to using your donation as effectively as possible whilst investing in sustainable growth that will help even more children in the future.
How fundraising costs create future impact
In 2024, we invested £26 million in fundraising - an increase from £23 million in 2023. This might seem high, but here's why it matters: every pound we spend on fundraising generates future income that funds our programmes for years to come.
We invest in building lasting relationships with supporters through regular giving schemes, legacy gifts and corporate partnerships. We also invested in upgrading our digital systems this year, making it easier and more secure for you to donate.
The result? We raised £72 million from individuals, communities and legacies in 2024 - including £27 million from people who remembered children in their wills. These unrestricted funds give us the flexibility to respond quickly to emergencies and fund work that institutional donors won't support.
Making your donation go further with Gift Aid
If you're a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid adds 25p to every £1 you donate at no extra cost to you. That means your £10 donation becomes £12.50.
You can make a Gift Aid declaration when you donate online, set up a direct debit, or fundraise through platforms like JustGiving. The declaration covers all future donations unless you tell us otherwise.
Where we work and who we reach
Save the Children UK is part of a global movement working in 93 countries, including the UK. In 2024, we directly supported programmes in 41 countries, providing technical expertise, funding, advocacy and humanitarian response.
We work in partnership with local organisations who understand their communities best. This means your donation funds both our direct work and grants to trusted partners who can reach children we can't.
In the UK, we supported 375,000 children and families facing poverty through early years grants, community programmes and advocacy for policy change. We also ran charity shops staffed by over 3,000 volunteers, generating income whilst giving pre-loved items a second life. Find out more about our UK work.
Internationally, we operate through Save the Children International, which implements programmes on behalf of UK donors and 29 other national Save the Children organisations. This shared model means we can respond at scale whilst avoiding duplication. Find out more about our international work.
What happens after you donate
Immediate impact: Your donation is processed securely and, if you've signed up for Gift Aid, we'll claim the additional 25% from HMRC.
Staying informed: We'll send you updates about the impact your donation is making, stories from children and families we've supported, and opportunities to get more involved - whether through volunteering, campaigning or fundraising.
Managing your donation: You can change your regular donation amount, update your Gift Aid declaration or contact our supporter care team at any time by email at [email protected] or by calling 020 7012 6400.
Independent oversight and accountability
We're regulated by the Charity Commission and regularly audited by independent accountants. Our finances are scrutinised by our Board of Trustees, who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure we use donations responsibly.
In 2024, we underwent our annual external audit, published our full Annual Report and submitted detailed programme reports to institutional donors including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the United Nations.
You can read our complete financial statements and Annual Report to see exactly how we've spent every pound.
Anna, 22, and Moyra, 66, are volunteers at the Save the Children Byres Road shop in Glasgow.
Other ways to support our work
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Leave a gift in your will:
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Legacy donations made up £27 million of our income in 2024 - funding work that wouldn't otherwise be possible. Find out more.
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Fundraise
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Whether running a marathon or hosting a bake sale, fundraisers raised over £500,000 through community groups in 2024. Find out more.
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Volunteer
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Our 3,351 active volunteers contributed over 270,000 hours in our shops, community groups and campaigns. Find out more.
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Donate goods
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Our charity shops accept clothing, books and household items in good condition, generating income whilst reducing waste. Find out more.
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Campaign with us
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Add your voice to our advocacy work calling for policy changes that protect children's rights. Find out more.
Your donation creates lasting change
From immediate emergency relief to long-term programmes that break cycles of poverty, your support makes it possible for us to stand alongside children through crisis and beyond.
In 2024, we saw children return to school in Myanmar, families escape poverty in Malawi and communities build resilience to climate change in Vanuatu. We saw girls in Sierra Leone protected from child marriage and babies in Gaza receive lifesaving healthcare.
None of this would be possible without donations from people like you. Every pound you give is an investment in a child's future - and when children thrive, whole communities transform.
Ready to make a difference? Donate now or set up a regular gift to create lasting change for children worldwide.
This content was last reviewed and updated in May 2026.
