Hi Andy

If the heat has hit you, we hope you’re staying cool!  

Summer’s here, and for many children that means long days of play, dripping ice creams and carefree memories. But for the 4 million children growing up in poverty, the school holidays can bring something very different: hunger, worry and feeling left out.  

For the parents and carers behind those children, summer often brings its own challenges. Many are doing all they can to give their children the holidays they deserve. But rising costs, childcare pressures and competing demands on family finances can make this one of the hardest times of the year. 

That's why together, with your support, we’re helping families through the hardest stretch of summer, with practical support, trusted advice, and safe spaces where children can simply be children.  

Below, you’ll hear from parents, families and support workers about how the Barnardo’s community helps make sure summer belongs to every child.
 

Summer with Liam  

We thought you’d be interested in our new film that’s just launched!  

Follow Liam's summer story, through his own eyes, revealing both the joy of the school holidays and the pressures that parents quietly carry behind the scenes. Through Liam’s experience, discover how together we’re helping families can create the moments every child deserves. 

Summer with Lisa

But last summer was different. Thanks to donations from the public, Barnardo's Child Poverty Fund helped Lisa give her children something every child deserves: happy memories together. 

The vouchers she received helped pay for camping equipment, making her family's very first camping trip possible. 

"It gave me hope," she says. "My son would have stayed if he could — we didn't want to go back home!" 

Summer with Sophia

Many of the families she works with feel isolated and unable to afford activities during the holidays. Through family groups, practical support and community activities, Sophia helps parents build confidence, make connections and feel they belong.