The Leap

For many children, summer means long care-free days of activities, playing and exploring. But not every child gets a summer like this. Your support helps make sure more of them do. 

“Holiday Bites is amazing,” says Kiki, 12, “It’s just brightened up most of my days.” Kiki and her brothers, DJ, 13, and Jaylon, 9, live with their grandma, Gigi, in Manchester.    

For families like Kiki’s, summer is tough. Free school meals stop and the costs of food, childcare and activities quickly pile up. Parents told us they felt ashamed using a food pantry in front of their kids. So, they stopped going.  

But, thanks to your support, we found a way to help families who are struggling. With the local community, we started Holiday Bites, combining activities with free food. At Holiday Bites the kids get a fun day out, while parents can chat and take home a bag of food, all without spending a penny.  

Gigi was carrying a lot of shame around using the pantry. But chatting to others there helped her leave those feelings behind, “Nobody laughed. Nobody told me I was a failure. I felt lighter.” 
 

Now the family volunteers at Holiday Bites and has found a new lease of life helping their community.

“Not long ago, DJ wouldn't go to school,” says Gigi. “He goes to school every day now. He gets golden awards.  And Jaylon, he's a friendship monitor at school, when before he wouldn't speak to anybody.”  

“We used to always just sit in the house,’ says Kiki, “It was boring…I didn't have a lot of friends. The new me? I'm energetic and fun! I go out most of the time now. I want to be a gardener, because I like nature and I like cutting grass and stuff.” 
 

When earthquakes struck Venezuela, everything 11-year-old Alba* knew changed. Her home was destroyed, her school closed and friends were suddenly gone. Alba now lives with her mum, Rosa Icela*, in a temporary shelter, where everyday tasks like cooking, sleeping and using the bathroom have become a challenge. For Rosa Icela, protecting her daughter is a constant worry. But because of you, both Alba and her mum are finding small moments of hope. 

Alba spends her days drawing, playing and enjoying activities at a Save the Children space, where she can simply be a child. Rosa Icela is grateful for the support, knowing that play and routine are vital for children living through crisis. Although things are uncertain, these moments of normality are helping Alba smile again. 
 

Children like Myron, 10, Polina, 14 and Maria, 13, are just some of the 584,600 Ukrainian people you’ve supported after they were forced to leave their homes in Ukraine. After everything they’ve lost, together, we’ve made sure they don’t lose the chance to make childhood memories too. Our summer camps run across Europe for Ukrainian children, offering a safe haven to play and have fun, while helping to improve their mental health and wellbeing.  

“I liked the psychologist, Anna. We played a lot of games, drew and spent time with her,” says Daria, 12, who attended our summer camp in Poland.  

Keep scrolling to see the Photo of the Month. 

Daniela sits in the flowers in her home, Vanuatu. She loves school, her brother JoJo and riding her BMX. You’ve supported Daniela’s village against intense cyclones that wipe out a whole season of crops in a matter of hours. Because of you, her community now has the tools to preserve their food, so children don’t go hungry. Their vegetables can be solar-dried, vacuum packed and stored at the village church.  “If a cyclone comes, we already have food in the storeroom,” explains Daniela. “I eat things that grow around our village. It gives us power.”

Venezuela, Colombia, Indonesia. Thanks to you, when earthquakes strike we’re there prioritising what children need. In Venezuela, we’ve helped 12,886 people, including 6,079 children like Alba*. Here’s just some of what that looks like:

•    Health consultations and medicine for over 4,037 people at mobile health clinics 
•    An Emergency Health Unit to support hospitals and deliver trauma care 
•    Delivering 300 food parcels, including rice, flour, fish and lentils
•    Supporting 3,763 people with clean water and hygiene, including setting up hydration points and handwashing stations 
•    Family hygiene kits, including toothbrushes, soap, sanitary pads and water purification tablets to 2,647 people 
•    Four safe spaces for children to play, relax and receive mental health support 
•    Specialised support for children with disabilities and neurodivergence

Together we’re caring for the children who need us. Thank you.

Read more about earthquakes and children.
 

If you’re entertaining little ones this summer, try our summer fun activity sheet – it’s also available in Welsh here. 

*Names changed to keep children safe.