United Kingdom

UNICEF in the UK

© UNICEF UK/Ethiopia/2007/Epstein

UNICEF UK Ambassador Ewan McGregor with children at Addis Alem School, Zalambessa, Ethiopia in 2007. Ewan took time out of his epic 15,000-mile motorcycle journey 'Long Way Down' (from Scotland to South Africa) to visit three UNICEF projects en route, in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi.

The UK National Committee for UNICEF was established in 1956. The Committee works in the UK to champion children's rights, win support and raise money for UNICEF's work with children everywhere.

UNICEF UK’s fundraising activities are wide and varied: from local initiatives with schools, such as “Day for Change”, to glittering annual events such as the Oscars Ball. The Committee has a number of corporate partnerships, including:

• Change for Good, a partnership with British Airways in which travellers donate unwanted foreign currency.
• Check Out for Children with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which raises money for immunisation by adding an optional US $1 (or the local currency equivalent) to each guest’s bill.
• United for UNICEF with Manchester United, enabling UNICEF to benefit from the football team’s global profile to raise funds for children.

UNICEF UK is privileged to have a number of ambassadors and celebrity supporters who lend their time and talents to raise UNICEF’s profile and influence global policy on behalf of children.

As well as fundraising, UNICEF UK actively campaigns to ensure that all children achieve the rights enshrined in the UNCRC. The current focus is the global, five-year campaign Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS.

UNICEF UK’s education team provides expertise on children’s rights and global citizenship for young people and teachers, through staff training and high-quality resources.

The youth team works with and for young people in the UK, encouraging them to raise money, campaign, and make their voices heard.

The Baby Friendly Initiative works with health professionals to promote breastfeeding and ensure that all parents are helped to make informed decisions about feeding their babies.