Our 150th birthday

For the past 150 years, we have been caring for young people who can’t live with their families. Today we look after children and young people through our children’s homes, fostering, homes for care leavers and specialist support services, all designed for young people in care, on the edge of care and leaving care.

What is it like to grow up in care?

Children and young people come into care for many reasons, through no fault of their own. They often feel different from their peers. Because of their past experiences, they may find it difficult to trust adults or assume that everyone will leave them and let them down. They are children, and all children deserve a home where they can feel safe, cared for and nurtured.

St Christopher’s is here to prove the opposite to children and young people. We work hard to build positive, trusting relationships with young people so they can have their needs met and grow.

150 years of care

2020 marks our 150th birthday; we have a long history of providing services and support. Throughout this time we have adapted our offer to address the changing challenges faced by young people.

We help young people to find a voice. By listening to what they tell us, their expertise has helped to develop innovative services that refine best practice for children’s social care.

Reaching more children and young people is critical, not because we want to grow, but because the need is there, and we believe we are best placed to provide the solution and care.

The Diamond Appeal: We believe everybody can shine!

Many of our children and young people need extra support in areas such as physical and mental health, life skills, education, training and employment. We want our young people to enjoy the same opportunities as their peers, but unlike their peers, many have no parents or guardians who they can turn to for support. Our approach focuses on building relationships with young people, listening to them and getting to know them so they can grow, develop and achieve.

We want each young person to recognise their strengths and find their diamond within. By donating to St Christopher’s, you enable us to help children achieve their potential. We are led by the needs of our children and young people, so the donation you make will be used where the need is greatest.