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Laila Bhunnoo and Dounia Arstim visited the offices of Action for Children in Hackney and proudly presented them with a cheque for the sum of £1,400.Duncan Lewis’ held a ‘Bake Off’ on the 13th November 2009, to raise as much money as possible for Action for Children.

Action for Children supports and speaks out for the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people in the UK. Action for Children works with disabled children, young people and their families because they need specialist help and support, and generally suffer from a wide variation in the quality of services they receive. Across the UK, 29 per cent of disabled children live in poverty and the families of disabled children report particularly high levels of stress and isolation. Their disability services provide disabled children and their families with residential and short break care, help families deal with challenging behaviour, provide specialist education and leisure opportunities, and offer innovative programmes such as the Access to IT project, which uses information technology to enhance disabled children’s confidence and their educational and social inclusion.

Action for Children also runs services right across the UK specifically devoted to helping these vulnerable children to overcome the disadvantages of not living with their birth parents. Research shows that Children generally do best when they stay with their families, but this is not possible for some. The charity also supports children and families with the most difficult problems and is the largest provider of family support services in the UK.

Action for Children work to help vulnerable young people realise their potential and make a successful transition to adulthood. Some of the young people they work with have mental health, drug or alcohol problems. Others are teenage parents. The projects help them to overcome these difficulties, often by working with specialist local agencies to provide total support.

The charity provides independent visitors for young people in the care system and, for care leavers, provides emotional support and practical assistance with education, training, and finding and keeping accommodation. They also run community-based programmes for young people who have committed crimes, encouraging young people to take responsibility for their actions and diverting them from high-risk behaviour.

The money raised by Duncan Lewis will be going straight to the independent visitor’s scheme. Laila and Dounia had the opportunity to visit and speak with their amazing staff. The independent visitor’s team do a wonderful job, helping children in care overcome any difficulties they may have. They also arrange days out and events, to help build the children’s confidence and enable them to have fun. The money raised by Duncan Lewis will help fund these events.

If you are interested in volunteering for Action for Children, visit their website for more information.