As you may know, over the past 12 months, Chance for Childhood has been working closely with Hope for Children to merge and unite our missions.

Dr. Bob Parsons OBE, the founder of Hope for Children, dedicated his life to supporting children and families in vulnerable situations. Since founding Hope for Children in 1994, his vision has been to create brighter futures for children with no other means of support. With this merger, Chance for Childhood is honoured to carry forward Dr. Parsons’ legacy.

Together, we will ensure that programmes across Uganda and Sri Lanka—initiatives that were so close to his heart—continue to thrive and grow as we combine our expertise and resources.

What does this mean for you?

• As of January 1st, all donations will be directed through Chance for Childhood, supporting projects from both organisations.
• Programmes previously managed by Hope for Children will continue seamlessly under Chance for Childhood.
• If you have a standing order or direct debit set up with Hope for Children, it will automatically transition to Chance for Childhood. If you would like to make any changes, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are so grateful for your ongoing support and commitment to ensuring brighter futures for vulnerable children. Together, we are stronger, and we look forward to continuing this important work with you.

FAQ’s 

Q1: Why are the charities merging?

The charities are merging to combine resources, enhance efficiencies, and expand our support of children in the most vulnerable situations. This decision was made after careful consideration, together we will:  

1. Improve opportunity to scale our programmes to impact more children in vulnerable situations with a more secure unrestricted income stream and better reserves allowing designated funds to support trained field staff during funding gaps.  
2. Be part of a bigger organisation with greater capacity to actively participate in national level advocacy campaigns, ensuring policy change can be influenced more tangibly by evidence from our programmes on the ground – thus leading to impact at a higher level.
3. Diversify our income streams to ensure that the organisation can continue to ride periods of uncertainty without significant threats to our impact. 
4. Achieve cost savings – similar to that achieved through CFC-SCA merger with one larger entity financing one SMT, one finance, HR and IT support function and streamlining through reducing costs. 

Q2: How will my donation be used after the merger? 

Your donation will continue to support the causes and programs you care about. The merged charity will uphold the intentions of all donors, ensuring funds are allocated as specified. Additionally, the merger may enable more effective use of funds due to reduced administrative costs.  

Q3: Will the mission or focus of the charity change?  

The core mission and values of the charities remain unchanged. However, the merger allows us to broaden our scope and enhance our programs. We are committed to keeping our donors informed about any significant changes in our focus or strategy. 

Q4: Can I choose to support a specific program within the merged charity? 

Absolutely. We respect the wishes of our donors and you can specify if you want your donation to support a particular program or initiative within the merged organisation. 

Q5: How will the merger affect the administrative costs of the charity?  

One of the goals of the merger is to reduce administrative costs by streamlining operations. This efficiency should allow a greater percentage of donations to go directly towards our programs and initiatives.

Over the last three years, on average 84p in every £1 Chance for Childhood received went directly to support children in vulnerable situations.  

Q6: Will there be new leadership or staff changes?  

Chance for Childhood’s CEO Anna-mai Andrews will take over the leadership of Hope for Children and overseeing all staff. 

Q7: How can I stay informed about the progress and impact of the merged charity?  

We will provide regular updates through our newsletters, website, and social media channels. We also encourage our donors to reach out with any questions or for more information at any time. 

Q8: What happens to my recurring donations during and after the merger?  

Your recurring donations will continue as usual. If there are any necessary changes or updates needed, we will communicate with you in advance to ensure a seamless process.  

Q9: How can I be sure that the merged charity will be effective in achieving its goals?  

We are committed to transparency and accountability. We will continue to measure and report on our impact and program effectiveness, and we welcome donor feedback and engagement to help us maintain and improve our standards. 

Q11: Will you continue to work in all the countries Hope for Children currently support? 

Hope for Children will continue to be working in Uganda, Kenya and Sri Lanka.  

Q12: Will your name change?  

For the moment we will continue to use Hope for Children’s name in our logo. We will then be looking at the future of the two brands and how they can work together. As you can see we are very similar in both name and activities, so it is a great match. 

Q13. Where does Chance for Childhood work, is it only African countries?

Chance for Childhood currently works in Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and the DRC. In the past we have worked with children in vulnerable situations living in countries including Brazil and the Philippines. 

Q14. Where does Hope for Children work?  

Hope for Children creates opportunities for children living in extreme poverty. They work with local communities in Sri Lanka, Kenya and Uganda to support children’s education, promote community livelihoods and to improve community health and well-being.  

Q15. Who do I say I am fundraising for?

Going forward you will say you are fundraising for Chance for Childhood rather than Hope for Children and you can select Chance for Childhood via Just giving or any challenge event provider.