Focus on Family Care: What is behind the UK’s new campaign on care reform for children?

SWIDN, Hub Cymru Africa, and Hope and Homes for Children invite you to a collaborative, open-access online event focused on care for marginalised children. Designed to connect and support UK charities and donors working with at-risk children internationally, this event will share best-practice resources and explore how civil society can engage with the UK Government’s global campaign for family care.

In January 2025, Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP, alongside Irish actor Barry Keoghan, launched a multi-year campaign advocating for a shift away from institutional care (e.g. orphanages) towards family alternatives that prioritise love, stability, and protection. This government-backed initiative provides UK-based charities and donors with a framework for future programming and points to best practice for  interventions that prioritise a child’s right to grow up in a safe, loving family environment.

This free, online event will unpack what the UK Government’s campaign means for charities, donors and international development practitioners, featuring stories from those with lived experience, and practical, accessible guidance to support your organisation’s journey.

What to Expect

• An introduction to care reform – what is care reform and why is it needed?
• An overview of what we know about the UK Government’s campaign for care reform priorities and what it means for UK-based charities and donors working to support marginalised children internationally
• Stories and reflections from children and young people with lived experience of institutional care
• An interview with Pastor Ruth Kahawa, who transitioned her charity in Uganda (Smile Africa) from an orphanage to an organisation providing alternative, family care
• Opportunities to network and collaborate with like-minded organisations
• Follow up pack of free resources including examples of successful reform initiatives in different global contexts

Whether you’re just starting to think about transitioning away from the use of orphanages or are already working in the child protection space, join us to learn, connect, and help build a future where every child grows up in the care of a family.