he need to support the UK’s vulnerable children and young people is greater and more urgent now than ever. In 2019–20, Barnardo’s supported work with 358,800 children, young people, parents and carers, across more than 800 services and partnerships throughout the UK, thanks to our 7,822 paid colleagues and around 14,000 volunteers.
Of our service users, 94% said they always felt respected, 92% said they always felt listened to, 88% said that the support was always helpful, and 85% said that they had a say in the decisions made about their support.
Hello, My name is Kells, I’m about to turn 20 but as a non-verbal quadriplegic, my life really began when I was 6, joined the Barnardo’s community and was introduced to assistive technology. My eye gaze activated computer enables me to communicate, have an opinion and have my say on issues of the day – issues that impact upon my life. Various groups at Barnardo’s have built up my confidence and taught me to be assertive.
It was at Barnardo’s that I first felt that someone wanted to hear my views, to listen to them and to take them on board. For the first time I could see a future for myself. In Barnardo’s I feel very much part of a team moving forward together.