Barnardo's

Nearly one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. And some young people face barriers - from poverty and poor mental health to a lack of work experience and difficulties access the right support - that can make it even harder to find the right opportunities and build the future they want. The government has recently commissioned an independent review of Young People and Work, led by Alan Milburn to examine why so many young people are not in education, employment or training – and what can be done to address this. As that work progresses, it is vital that the voices of children and young people themselves shape the conversation about what needs to change. Today, we’re publishing No Young People Left Behind: Unlocking Opportunities for Young People Facing the Greatest Barriers to Education and Employment. Drawing on the voices of young people, polling of 1,000 16–25-year-olds, and insights from our services and employer partners, the report explores the barriers young people face – and what needs to change. Through our Employment, Training and Skills services and partnerships with employers including Amazon and IKEA, we see first-hand the difference the right support can make. As our chief executive Lynn Perry MBE put it: “Behind every number is a young person with their own hopes, ambitions and talents, looking for a chance to build the future they want. “What we heard was clear. Young people want to work. They want independence, security and the chance to build the futures they imagine for themselves.” The report sets out recommendations for action across careers support, work experience, reducing financial barriers to participation, and access to tailored employment support. Read the report and our recommendations:

Every child deserves a safe, comfortable place to sleep. We're proud to partner with Simba Sleep | B Corp™ to help children and families experiencing poverty access the essentials they need through our Dream Space Bed Bundle initiative. Recently, we had the opportunity to attend Simba's Pillow Talk staff conference, where we shared the impact of our partnership and how the Dream Space initiative is making a real difference to families across the UK. Since launching, more than 400 bed bundles have been allocated to families, equating to over £135,000 worth of support and helping more children enjoy a safe, comfortable and dignified place to sleep. Thank you to everyone at Simba for their continued commitment to supporting children, young people and families when they need it most. Together, we're helping ensure more children have the foundations they need to thrive.

Barnardo’s provided more than £395,000 to families in July and August alone, new analysis from our Child Poverty Fund shows. More than 1,800 applications were approved, helping families afford food, clothing, beds and other essentials, but also days out and activities so children didn’t miss out during the school holidays. “These families aren’t asking for luxury,” said Lynn Perry, our Chief Executive. For many families, poverty isn’t only about going without the essentials. It can mean children missing out on the everyday experiences their peers take for granted. Read what our latest analysis reveals about the pressures facing families across the UK: https://brnw.ch/21x5RZi

Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, happy, healthy and hopeful. At Barnardo's Northern Ireland, we work alongside 18,000 children, young people and families each year through 45 services across communities throughout Northern Ireland. Every day, we see the incredible resilience and potential of children, but we also see the challenges too many face. With the 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly Election approaching, we've launched our manifesto, calling on the next Assembly to take action to improve outcomes for children and families. Our key asks are: ➡️ End child poverty to include creating a Northern Ireland child payment to improve families finical security. ➡️ Transform how government works for children and families through long-term, joined-up reform. ➡️ Expand Sure Start so every family who needs early support can access it. As one young person supported by our Ubuntu Service said: "Young people in Northern Ireland don't need politicians to speak to them. They need politicians who are willing to talk with them." We are calling on Assembly candidates and political parties to pledge their support for Northern Ireland's children and help create lasting change. Read our manifesto here: https://lnkd.in/eCXTNSTR

Today in Cardiff, Barnardo's leaders are coming together to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for children and young people. As we begin to refresh our strategy, we're taking time to reflect on the challenges ahead, the opportunities we can build on, and how we continue making a positive difference for the children, young people and families we support. With thoughtful conversations, healthy challenge and collaboration already underway, we're looking forward to hearing ideas and insights from colleagues across the organisation as we shape our ambitions for 2030. #WeAreBarnardos #Leadership #ChildrenAndYoungPeople #FutureFocused

Sing. Shine. Celebrate. Think your choir is ready to do all three? Entries are now open for our National Choir Competition 2027, and we’re looking for school and community choirs for children and young people aged 18 and under from across the UK to take part. Know a choir that should be there? Tag them below, or give their music teacher or choir leader a little nudge. Entries close 27 November 2026. Find out more: https://brnw.ch/21x5GKO

Over 35 colleagues from across Adecco and The Adecco Group have rolled up their sleeves to support us. Raising vital funds and helping transform spaces for the children, young people and families we support. As part of our Store Wars, 13 Adecco colleagues took over our retail stores for the day to help boost sales and fundraising in Brixton, Sandbach, Crawley and Belfast. Together, their efforts contributed to £1,452 in sales in the stores. Another 24 colleagues brought their energy to our children’s services in Manchester and Birmingham, helping with gardening, painting and decorating to create more welcoming and inviting spaces for the people who use them. Courtney Milburn, Senior Family Support Worker at our Birmingham service, said: “The difference it has made is amazing and has had a really positive impact on the environment in the centre. Everyone worked so hard and did it in great time also.” Yasmin Hanif, Assistant Director Children’s Services, said: "We had a fantastic day, and it was lovely to meet your team and work alongside them. They were amazing. "The organisation, enthusiasm, interest, and passion shown by the team were incredible, and it was clear how much everyone cared about making a difference." A huge thank you to everyone at Adecco who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to make this possible. It’s fantastic to see the difference we can make for children, young people and families when we work together. 💚

“Every child has the right to be safe, healthy, learn, be heard, and reach their full potential.” This week, we stood alongside families and young people to launch Barnardo's Northern Ireland's Election Manifesto at Stormont. We want the next elected Assembly to prioritise: ➡️ Action to end child poverty  ➡️ A government that works better for children and families  ➡️ The expansion of Sure Start services, so every child has the best possible start in life Michele Janes, Director of Barnardo's Northern Ireland, said: "The young people we support tell us poverty continues to limit their opportunities, placing increasing pressure on their families. More children are entering care and demand for mental health support continues to grow. Families are waiting too long for help. We need a government that is ambitious and collaborative to make change happen." The next government has a real opportunity to create lasting change for children and families across Northern Ireland. Together, we can build a future where every child has the chance to thrive. 

Every 20 minutes, a child enters the care system in the UK. For those working across children's services, social care and family support, the growing need for foster carers is something we see every day. Behind every referral is a child who needs safety, stability and the opportunity to thrive. We're proud to support foster parents like Bridget, whose experience highlights the transformational impact that consistent care, encouragement and belonging can have on a child's life. If you, or someone you know could provide a safe and nurturing home for a child, let’s start the conversation. Our local teams are available for friendly, no-pressure discussions with anyone interested in finding out more about fostering.  Let’s talk fostering, together: https://lnkd.in/ennr-eHn

Right now, over one in four children in the UK are growing up in poverty. For many children, poverty isn't just about going without food. It's missing out on everyday experiences, lacking essentials, and feeling excluded from the moments that help them learn, grow and belong. At Barnardo's, we're working alongside children, young people and families to provide support in the ways they need most, helping them feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful. For over 160 years, we've been changing childhoods and changing lives. Read Rowan's story and learn more about the impact of poverty on childhood: https://brnw.ch/21x5ryG Together, we can make sure children know they don't have to face life's challenges alone. 💚