Save the Children UK

As @patmcfaddenmp outlines here, the impact of poverty on children can have huge consequences for the rest of their lives. That's why we must invest in children to give them the futures they deserve. Save the Children ambassador, Shabaz Ali, interviewed the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about what the UK Government is doing to tackle child poverty and support young people. You can watch the full interview here: bit.ly/42zqQER

Today we celebrate the life of our longest-serving volunteer, Terry Holt. Terry was born in 1923, only four years after Save the Children was founded. She recently passed away at age 102. Terry served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service between 1941 and 1948 and saw first-hand the fate of children growing up in conflict. After returning home, she founded the Cheadle and Gatley branch of Save the Children in 1953, and ran many activities and events over the years, raising a lot of money for children who need it. After seeing news coverage about Gaza, Terry felt the need to ‘do her bit’ for children there. So, for her 100th birthday, she held a mulled wine and mince pie coffee morning with the aim of raising £1,500, but ended up raising £3,000! Terry was a remarkable woman and leaves an incredible legacy. What a privilege to have had a lifetime of your support, Terry. Thank you. ❤️

Three children were reportedly killed on Wednesday night in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, including two brothers. Their names were Abdullah al-Abed, 9, Salah al-Abed, 12, and Mohammed Balousha, 14. How can we call this a 'ceasefire' when children are still being killed? #StopTheWarOnChildren Source: BBC

We are appalled that new data shows that in the space of six years, living in 'Temporary Accommodation' contributed to the deaths of 104 children in England. That's one child every three weeks. These children had their whole futures ahead of them. We cannot allow their deaths to become normalised. Every child deserves a safe place to call home. Ministers have set out plans to reduce the use of temporary housing and end the use of bed and breakfasts for families. And while this is a start, in the long-term we need to build more social homes to guarantee no child in the UK is left homeless.

Two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank yesterday, according to the Ministry of Health. 16-year-old Mohammad Majdi al-Jaabari was reportedly killed when he was struck by a vehicle in Hebron. And 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan was reportedly killed in an attack in al-Mughayyir. March was already among the deadliest months for settler violence. This violence is enabled by policies and conditions created by the Israeli government and must end. The root causes of repeated bouts of violence and a decades-long child rights crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory must be addressed by ending Israeli occupation. For too long the occupation has denied the rights of Palestinian children and stolen their childhoods, exposing them to violence, arbitrary detentions, and cutting them off from their homes, schools and other essential services. #StopTheWarOnChildren

The news of a temporary pause in hostilities in Lebanon brings a fragile sense of relief for children and families, but this is not a ceasefire until it is definitive and permanent. Children in Lebanon have faced a 45-day nightmare and nowhere across the country has been safe. Since 2023, the lives of children have been impacted by on and off escalations. Almost 20 children a day have been killed and injured by Israeli forces airstrikes since 2 March, nearly 800 children injured or killed and one in five children – over 350,000 - have been forced to leave their homes, some fleeing in the middle of the night. Children and families have been sleeping in tents or overcrowded collective shelters, and any sense of normality and childhood ripped away. Our teams on the ground are already seeing families begin the long journey back to their homes, unsure whether they will find anything left when they arrive. However, many families are telling us how they feel afraid to return, and for some they have no home to return to, forcing them to remain displaced in collective shelters. We are continuing to provide psychosocial support for children, reunite missing children with their families, ensure access to safe water and sanitation facilities, and distribute essential items for those displaced. This moment must mark the beginning of lasting stability and relief, not merely a pause before further suffering. Children need stability to heal from the trauma of war, to return to school, to play, and to rebuild their lives without the constant fear that violence will resume.

A 12-year-old boy was killed and 100+ people are reported to be injured after a Russian attack in Ukraine last night. “Instead of sleeping safely, children are hiding in corridors, trying to survive. This is not how childhood should look.” – Sonia Khush, Save the Children's Ukraine Country Director bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Risk of famine. Aid being blocked. Humanitarian workers under attack. Do we have your attention? Hear from @JennyChapman and @MoazzamTMalik talk about their journey in Sudan as they reflect on the deepening crisis, the inspirational children they met, and the path towards peace. Full conversation on FCDO/ SaveTheChildren YouTube – link in the reply ⤵️

No child should have to learn to walk twice. But every day, children are forced to because of the harm caused by explosive weapons. It was April 2023 and war had just broken out in Sudan. Ali* and his little brother Nour*, were playing football at home. When their ball went into the street, they rushed out to get it - but at the same moment, an explosive shell landed nearby and exploded. In a split second, their lives changed forever. Ali* lost his leg. Nour* suffered severe injuries that left him paralysed. We know war is changing. It haunts our headlines every day. We are watching the laws that were designed to protect children be flat-out ignored. Without urgent action, conflict risks becoming a lawless free-for-all where nothing is off-limits. We refuse to let this become the new normal. Your voice has power. For the UK, standing up for international law isn’t a choice. It’s an obligation. The UK Government needs to: - Pressure warring parties - and their international backers - to end the violence - Prioritise protecting children in Sudan - Hold those who harm children accountable Take action now: bit.ly/4t7ri8Y * Names changed to keep children safe Animation and Art Production by Nady Studio. Directed by Ahmad Nady.

Sudan is the world’s worst humanitarian emergency. The UK Government is right to protect humanitarian funding and strengthen support for local Sudanese organisations supporting their communities. But community-led initiatives cannot carry a crisis of this magnitude alone. Global leaders need to step up. The UK co-hosting today's Berlin Sudan Conference is a step in the right direction, but words must be translated into concrete action. Sudan's children can't afford anymore delays.

We have reached three years of war in Sudan. That's three years of children growing up in war. Bombs, drones, landmines and missiles have destroyed homes, schools and playgrounds. They've disrupted childhoods. We visited a hospital that at the height of the conflict had 150 people arriving every day with blast injuries, many of them were children. No children deserves to go through this. The UK Government needs to help end the violence in Sudan, protect children, and hold those responsible to account. Our email template takes less than a minute to send to your MP but can pressure them to stand up for children’s rights. Email your MP now: bit.ly/4t7ri8Y

3 years of conflict. 33 million in need. Over 44,000 voices calling for change. Emergency Alert! After three years of conflict 33 million people are in need of aid. Sudan is a real emergency that can’t be ignored. Yesterday, 12 leading charities, civil society and Sudanese diaspora sounded the alarm for Sudan. Together they shared your call to action with the UK government. Thank you to all those who signed our urgent petition. As the suffering in Sudan reaches unimaginable levels, the UK must use every tool at its disposal to push for a ceasefire, protect civilians, secure safe and sustained humanitarian access and increase lifesaving funding.

Thanks so much for your support, Vincent, and best of luck with the last of your London Marathon prep - you've got this! We'd love to send you a Save the Children running top and share where we'll be on the big day, including our post-race reception - please email us on events@savethechildren.org.uk and we can send you more info 😊

In just under a month's time I'll be running the @LondonMarathon for the second time. This year I'm fundraising for @savechildrenuk and once again for the @JSchofieldTrust. Full details on my page, any donations you can spare would be greatly appreciated! gvwhl.com/NRORV

In Sudan last month I spoke to survivors of the El Fasher siege. One story really stuck with me. I met Minahil*, a mother who was forced to flee the violence with her family. Tragically, her older son wasn't allowed to leave. He was one of 6,000 people killed. She is now living in a displacement camp with the rest of her family in River Nile State. Save the Children is doing what it can to support Minahil* and families like hers. But so much more needs to be done. Sudan’s children are suffering the most acute hunger and education crisis in the world right now. The UK Government and international partners need to step up in this hour of need. You have the power to make a difference. Please message your Member of Parliament - the more emails they get about Sudan, the more likely they are to push the government to act: bit.ly/4t4FzDw *Name changed to protect identity

Reports that Iran and the US have agreed a two-week conditional ceasefire will be a welcome relief for families in the Middle East, who have suffered five weeks of bombing, displacement and terror. However, a ceasefire is still urgently needed in Lebanon and the wider region, where Israeli military bombing has intensified to some of the worst levels since the conflict began. A definitive ceasefire for the entire regional conflict, including #Lebanon, is the only way to truly protect children’s lives and futures and end the suffering.

As the two-child limit is finally scrapped this week, our CEO @MoazzamTMalik marks this moment of progress and looks to the future in @politicshome. This change means 450,000 children being lifted out of poverty by the end of this parliament - the largest number taken out of poverty in a generation. "Scrapping the two-child limit to benefits marks the start of a more positive journey for hundreds of thousands of children. "Let’s challenge our political leaders to keep their promises to drive down child poverty. Let’s give our children across the UK the future they deserve." Read the full article: bit.ly/4sXBjFC

Sudan is now the largest child displacement crisis in the world, yet it remains one of the most overlooked. 5 million children have been forced from their homes. 17 million children require humanitarian assistance. Nearly half of Sudan’s children have lost between 15 and 18 months of schooling. Let's show the UK Government how much we care about Sudan. It’s time for them to do everything it can to protect Sudanese children. They must: - Pressure warring parties - and their international backers - to end the violence - Prioritise protecting children in Sudan - Hold those who harm children accountable Our email template takes less than a minute to send to your MP but can pressure them to stand up for children’s rights. Email your MP: bit.ly/3NFMAv7

The Middle East conflict is taking a devastating toll on children. Forced to flee from their homes, they clutch toys and schoolbags, trying to hold onto small comforts as their world is uprooted. Schools have become shelters for displaced families, and playgrounds storage for humanitarian aid. No child should have to live through this. This war must stop, and children’s futures must be protected.

Thanks to the @RestIsPolitics for pointing out that the UK Government is taking aid spending down to its lowest level on record. We share @RoryStewartUK's and @campbellclaret's concerns about this. The post-war, rules-based international system is being rapidly undermined. Following a turbulent year of global politics, Britain faces a choice. We can continue retreating or we can help shape something better. Cutting aid was wrong. At precisely the moment children need more support, this decision will hit the most vulnerable the hardest. But that doesn’t mean the system was right. A system that is less top-down, more responsive to the needs of countries and people, and more sustainable is needed now more than ever, and protecting children must remain non-negotiable. Children’s lives depend on it. So does Britain’s place in the world.