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.

'Put it Right' is a major five-year initiative launched in 2010 by UNICEF UK to inspire unprecedented action to protect the rights of children everywhere: rights to a childhood, to be healthy, to be educated, to be treated fairly and to be heard. The initiative aims to:

• Raise an initial £55 million for UNICEF's work with children around the world
• Campaign for action by the UK Government
• Put children's rights at the heart of the UK's approach to children.

UNICEF UK's current campaigns on international issues such as HIV and AIDS, climate change, and water and sanitation, as well as domestic campaigns on child poverty and breastfeeding, are also part of Put it Right.

UNICEF UK's fundraising activities are wide and varied: from local initiatives with schools, such as 'Day for Change', to sponsored treks and high-profile events. 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 immunization 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.

UNICEF UK's education team provides expertise on children's rights and global citizenship for young people and teachers through the Rights Respecting School Award scheme, which provides staff training and high-quality resources.

UNICEF UK's network for young people aged 12-18 - known as Tagd - upholds children's and young people's right to be heard. Members of Tagd campaign and lobby the government, raise money for UNICEF's work and spread the word about child rights.

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.

UNICEF UK is also developing Child Friendly Communities, an exciting new programme that aims to improve rights realization, well-being and outcomes for children in the UK by embedding child rights in local communities.