A group of children chase after a football in their school playground.
A group of children chase after a football in their school playground.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF stands for The United Nations Children’s Fund. We are a child-rights organisation established by the UN in 1946.

Today, more than 15,000 of our staff members work in more than 190 countries to reach those most in need. Every day, we work together to create a better world for children.

When an emergency strikes, we are ready to respond —no matter where in the world the crisis may be.

Wherever people need clean water, we have the resources and expertise to provide access while supporting proper sanitation and promoting good hygiene practices.

For children experiencing malnutrition, we provide vital nutrition support, from life-saving therapeutic food to community nutrition services.

During conflict or natural disaster where children’s access to education is disrupted, we set up temporary schools .

And for children at risk of disease, we help make sure they’re vaccinated.

That is just the tip of the iceberg. In short, we are for every child. We reach more children in need than any other organisation.

Learn more about what we do. Alternatively, read more about the global UNICEF team’s governance and leadership.

We work for every child

UNICEF UK is among 33 UNICEF national committees that work locally to promote and protect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We share a vision to build a better world for every child. 

Together, we are committed to:

  • Advocating for and creating change for children
  • Unlocking resources for programmes for children
  • Promoting children’s voices

Our shared ambition is to ensure every child here in the UK and worldwide is healthy, educated, and safe. We work towards this by raising funds for UNICEF’s global work, implementing programmes together with local government to put children’s rights at the heart of local services, and campaigning for child rights to be protected everywhere.

How did we do in 2023?

In the UK:

Around the world:

  • 9.3 million children received life-saving treatment for severe malnutrition
  • 25 million people gained access to safe drinking water
  • 27 million children received vaccinations against measles in emergency contexts
  • 44 million children were able to access education in emergency situations

Our funding is entirely dependent on individual donations and the voluntary support of government, civil society, and private sector partners. That means your donations have a real impact on the lives of children globally.

Donate now to help us ensure every child has a happy and healthy childhood.

Want to know more about how we’re run first? Read more about UNICEF UK’s governance and leadership.