menu Plan International UK Work with children in the world’s poorest countries to build a better future You are here: About us breadcrumb navigation: Home / About / About us ABOUT US AROUND THE WORLD, WE’RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD HAS THE SAME CHANCE IN LIFE Plan International UK is a global children’s charity. We work with girls and boys growing up in some of the world’s poorest communities, making sure they have access to the education, health care, clean water and future opportunities they need to thrive. We’re also working to create a just and equal world for girls – including here in the UK. Through our Because I am a Girl campaign we’re standing with brave girls everywhere as they take on the issues that matter to them, from child marriage to street harassment and sexual exploitation at work. We’re fighting for a world where every child, especially every girl, knows their value. We want the communities they’re growing up in – and the world around them – to value them too. And if a disaster strikes we’re there to protect children, keep them learning and help them to recover. OUR APPROACH TO GIVE EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHANCE WE'RE WORKING WITH: Individuals supporting children and promoting girls' rights through our sponsorship projects and programmes Communities through economic empowerment and livelihoods projects and disaster relief Changemakers using our platform to amplify children's voices and advocate for lasting change Africa In Sierra Leone more than 6,500 girls and children with disabilities are being supported to reach their potential through our Girls’ Education Challenge fund. The Americas In Brazil, our Young Health Programme has reached more than 28,000 young people, empowering them to lead healthier lives. Asia In South Asia we've reached almost 10.5 million people since 2014 through our successful water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme. UK Our UK programmes are working with girls to tackle period poverty, change perceptions and attitudes towards girls and create a safe space for girls online. HOW WE RAISE MONEY EVERY DAY, THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SUPPORTERS GIVES EVEN MORE CHILDREN THE CHANCE TO THRIVE. READ MORE HOW YOUR MONEY IS SPENT READ OUR ANNUAL REPORTS AND FIND OUT HOW YOUR SUPPORT IS CHANGING CHILDREN'S LIVES. READ MORE READ MORE ABOUT OUR WORK OUR STRATEGY 2021–2023 We have seen unprecedented progress in the fight against global poverty in recent decades, but we have a lot of work to do if we’re going to protect that progress against emerging challenges. OUR STRATEGY 2021–2023 OUR HISTORY Originally named Foster Parents Scheme for Children in Spain, Plan International was founded in 1937 by British journalist and broadcaster John Langdon-Davies. He was later joined by Eric Muggeridge, Esme Odgers, and Nick (Barton) Carter. Langdon-Davies had seen first-hand the plight of children orphaned during the Spanish Civil War and was determined to help. He wanted to provide not only food, shelter and education to the children but also a sense that someone, somewhere, was thinking about them as an individual. During the Second World War, renamed Foster Parents Plan for War Children, we expanded to work with displaced children throughout war-torn Europe. We continued to work in Europe through the 1950s. Over the following decades, Plan International extended its work to Asia and Africa and ended its work in Europe. Countries that were once helped by Plan International have now become donors – including Spain, where it all began. Enock writes a letter to his sponsor. He lives in Togo, where Plan International is funding new classrooms at his school. "I want to become a doctor, because in my village many people fall sick," he says. A PIONEER OF CHILD SPONSORSHIP In the beginning, the Foster Parents Scheme for Children in Spain asked British people to donate one shilling a day to provide a child with food and shelter. They also asked them to write letters and send photos to the child, to show them that someone cared about them. This was the beginning of what we now call child sponsorship. Today, more than 70,000 sponsors are helping to support over 75,000 children in 45 countries around the world through Plan International UK. BECOME A SPONSOR WHY WE'RE NEEDED 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year 263 million children adolescents and youth are out of school worldwide 2 out of 3 girls in the UK have been sexually harassed in public OUR POLICY AND CAMPAIGNING WORK Through our policy, advocacy and research we’re able to influence governments globally, to realise the rights of children and young people and to promote gender equality and girls’ rights. We use the evidence and learning from our research and programmes to enable young people to take a stand on the issues that matter most to them – including through our Because I am a Girl campaign, tackling issues from child marriage and sexual exploitation at work to street harassment. JOIN BECAUSE I AM A GIRL READ OUR POLICY BLOGS OUR PEOPLE At Plan International UK, we come to work each day to make sure every child has the same chance in life. We won’t stop until every child can thrive and every girl has a fair, just world to grow up in – a vital step in building a better world for all children. It’s our people’s passion, commitment, expert knowledge and skills that enable us to create lasting change for children and we’re proud to have young people at the heart of what we do. MEET THE TEAM HOW WE WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS Plan International UK exists to help children and young people, and we therefore take their safeguarding very seriously. We have well established systems and policies, including training for all our employees, to ensure that we do everything we can to safeguard the children and young people we work with, and that we provide a safe working environment for everyone. READ MORE DISCOVER MORE EDUCATION PROTECTING EVERY CHILD’S RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION AND CHALLENGING THE BARRIERS THAT KEEP GIRLS OUT OF SCHOOL. OUR WORK HEALTH AND WATER IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, CLEAN WATER AND TOILETS AND PROTECTING GIRLS’ HEALTH RIGHTS. OUR WORK ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE WORKING WITH GIRLS, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO END CHILD MARRIAGE AROUND THE WORLD. OUR WORK FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION WORKING WITH GIRLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM FGM. OUR WORK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO GAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SECURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. OUR WORK CLIMATE CHANGE AND YOUNG PEOPLE YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD ARE BATTLING MORE FREQUENT AND EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE DESTROYING CROPS, HOMES AND LIVELIHOODS. OUR WORK DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES PROTECTING CHILDREN IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND HELPING COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR FUTURE DISASTERS. OUR WORK GIRLS' RIGHTS IN THE UK ADDRESSING INEQUALITIES FACING UK GIRLS THROUGH GROUND-BREAKING REPORTS AND PROGRAMMES. READ THEIR STORIES GIVE EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHANCE DO SOMETHING AMAZING. START YOUR SPONSORSHIP JOURNEY TODAY. BECOME A SPONSOR Share this FACEBOOK LINKEDIN TWITTER Useful links MY SPONSORSHIP JOBS AND VOLUNTEERING RESOURCES POLICY RESEARCH AND INFLUENCING MEDIA CENTRE CONTACT US SAFEGUARDING TERMS & CONDITIONS PRIVACY NOTICES COOKIE NOTICE Site Search Search Follow Connect with us FACEBOOK TWITTER YOUTUBE INSTAGRAM Central Contact Switchboard: +44 (0) 300 777 9777 Plan International UK Finsgate, 5-7 Cranwood Street London, EC1V 9LH UK Small Print Registered Charity No. 276035. | Sitemap Analytics On Off We use analytics cookies to help us understand how you use our website, so that we can make it better. Marketing On Off We use marketing cookies to help us monitor and improve the relevancy of our advertising campaigns.