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See how child sponsorship can change one life
See how child sponsorship can change one life
Why your child sponsorship support is effective
In the midst of the global food crisis, providing a child in poverty with the holistic support of Compassion's programme is more vital than ever before. For just £32 a month your child sponsorship will:
Empower one child to overcome physical, spiritual and emotional poverty, for good.
Ensure one child receives nutritional support, regular check-ups and the support of their local church community.
Give one child living in poverty the educational support they need for a brighter future.
Why choose Compassion UK for sponsoring a child?
Compassion child sponsorship works
The longstanding project-based, child development programme you’ll give your sponsored child access to in the future is highly effective.
Dr Bruce Wydick, Journal of Political Economy
Independent research 
into the
project-based programme shows Compassion-sponsored children stay in school longer and are more
likely to grow up to be employed and become leaders in their churches and communities.
14-18% more likely to have salaried employment as adults.
30-75% more likely to become leaders in their communities.
27-40% more likely to finish their secondary education.
Excellent stewardship
Compassion is committed to excellent stewardship and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. We conduct regular internal and external audits in our field offices and in the UK.
80p directly benefitting children in poverty
8p support costs
Typically, for every pound given in child sponsorship donations:
88p
spent on charitable activities
12p spent on fundraising and finding the next sponsor
Trusted charity since 1952
Compassion is a leading authority in holistic child development.
Direct one-to-one child sponsorship
The child you choose to sponsor today will directly receive the benefit of your sponsorship support.
Church-driven
We run our child sponsorship programme exclusively in partnership with local churches who fully understand their local communities.
What will your sponsorship donations actually change?
You'll provide your sponsored child with:
Once our project-based programme can resume, you’ll provide your sponsored child with:
- School resources and uniforms to help defeat illiteracy and provide critical skills.
- Medical check-ups to fight back against disease and keep children healthy.
- Nutritional meals and additional nutritional support where needed.
- Christ-centred guidance through the local church to overcome fear and hopelessness.
- Vocational training to equip them for the future.
- Recreational activities to improve self-confidence, social and emotional skills.
- A one-to-one relationship with you their only sponsor, with letters translated into their native language to bring hope and positive change.
How child sponsorship works
Our church partners reach the children in the greatest need.
Staff who know their communities inside out identify the children most in need of your sponsorship support. Children are given help regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.
We start searching for a sponsor,
like you.
Once registered in the Compassion Programme, we look for one sponsor to support each child.
One Compassion sponsor starts to empower one child.
When you start sponsoring, you sponsor a child directly! Your donations will immediately begin to support your sponsored child.
The cycle of poverty is broken!
Compassion-sponsored children are empowered to live free from poverty and bring change to their families and communities.
Sponsors exchange letters with their child.
Letters will be an encouragement to both you and your sponsored child. Please be patient as letter delivery can be disrupted by circumstances local to your sponsored child such as restrictions on meeting, floods or unrest, but we do all we can to deliver them swiftly and safely.
What can you expect when you sponsor a child?
How child sponsorship work
Where possible, Compassion offers you the chance to visit your sponsored child either on a group trip or individual visit. Make treasured memories and be encouraged about the difference you're making.
Compassion UK App and myCompassion to connect with your sponsored child
Use the free Compassion UK App or myCompassion web portal to write letters as well as viewing your sponsored child's information and photo.
Beautiful welcome pack with framed photo
When you sponsor a child today, in the next 7-10 working days, you'll receive your Welcome Pack with a framed photo of your sponsored child.
Encouraging letters and drawings from your child
Receiving personal letters and drawings from your sponsored child will give you a unique insight into their culture and community. As you write back, you'll speak encouragement into your sponsored child's life.
Project updates from your child’s community
Once a year you'll receive a message from the pastor or director of the Compassion project your sponsored child attends every week. You'll learn more about the life-changing support your sponsorship is providing.
New photos of your sponsored child
Photo updates of your sponsored child will show you how they're growing and thriving. You'll also receive news about what they're learning at their project.
The opportunity to visit and meet your sponsored child
When COVID-19 restrictions allow, Compassion offers you the chance to visit your sponsored child either on a group trip or individual visit. Make treasured memories and be encouraged about the difference you're making.
Child sponsorship and me
More than 84,000 people sponsor a child through Compassion UK. Once you choose to sponsor, you too can begin to share in the joy of bringing hope to a child in need. You can join the thousands who've chosen to take a stand against child poverty.
Compassion child sponsorship is a beautiful way of connecting us to our global neighbour and reminding us that loving the poor is at the core of the gospel.
Andy Hawthorne, Founder and CEO of The Message Trust
We started sponsoring Louis five years ago. Thanks to sponsorship with Compassion, he’s being kept healthy, receiving an education and enjoying just being a child. Louis is a big part of our family. We write letters, share pictures and get regular news about how he’s growing and developing. My children see that we as a family can make a difference.
Kate, Kent
We had the opportunity when we went out to the Dominican Republic to go to our sponsored child’s Compassion project. I remember asking the project administrator, can I see Darwin’s sponsorship file. He pulled it down from the rack and there it was – two pencils, so much, half a pound of rice, so much, two pairs of socks, so much.
David Woods, Surrey
We would encourage anybody to sponsor, it’s so easy to spend money on coffees, magazines and treats without really thinking about it. But for the same cost each month you could change a child’s life and make a real difference, not only to them but their whole family.
Paul and Linda Coleman, Norwich
My husband and I sponsor two children with Compassion. Compassion is a tremendous organisation providing direct, vital services to children and their families. The impact trickles down to the communities they live in as well. I’d encourage others to sponsor a child – it’s an opportunity to give what you can and connect with someone in a special way.
Charlotte Maslin-Knight, Model and Compassion UK Ambassador
How to sponsor a child
Begin your child sponsorship journey today by finding a child on our website who is waiting for a sponsor.
You may also be interested in the following guides:
Your FAQs
Some of the questions you may have about sponsorship.
Child sponsorship will generally last until the child you sponsor finishes their education, which is usually between the ages of 18 and 22 depending on the country and personal circumstances. It’s quite common for the children in our programmes to start school late, have to repeat years or even stay on to do vocational training courses. We want to support them through everything, so they’re in the best possible position to support themselves and their families when they grow up. Be inspired by Emanuel’s story here.
Sometimes children may leave the project before they’ve finished their education. If there is another Compassion project near their new home, we’ll transfer their sponsorship. If we’re unable to find a suitable project, then we’ll let you know so you can write a final letter to bless them.
Our hope is that each child will have the same sponsor throughout, but we do understand that our sponsors’ situations change too. If you wish to end your child sponsorship, the child you sponsor will continue to benefit from the Compassion programme and we’ll look to find a new sponsor as quickly as possible.
If you have further questions, please get in touch with our friendly team at 01932 836490 or by email at info@compassionuk.org.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel restrictions and safety concerns for the communities we serve hindered our ability to invite supporters like you, to see first-hand what God is doing to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name This situation was unexpected and led to a significant repurposing and reduction of our original workforce, who were dedicated to planning and facilitating trips and visits. As a result, we’re now re-growing our teams and capacity. Initially, we’re offering a small number of trips for specific purposes.
We ask for your grace and patience as we rebuild. We’re looking forward to being able to offer these experiences to supporters more widely in the future.
Compassion visits give you the privilege of meeting the child you sponsor and their family. During your day’s visit, learn more about the how the local church is supporting the family and empowering them to overcome poverty. Spend valuable time building relationship with the child you sponsor and praying and encouraging one another.
What you need to know about visiting
- You will need to have been supporting a child with Compassion for a least a year.
- You need to arrange your visit through our Tours and Visits team. Please get in touch with us at least 6-8 weeks in advance.
- Visits take place at a Compassion project or other suitable location. If possible, you’ll also visit the home of the child you sponsor.
- While visiting, you’ll need to pay for any expenses incurred, including transport, visit host, meals and accommodation.
- Visits usually take place Monday – Friday and are between 3 and 6 hours long.
The quickest way to send a birthday greeting to the child you sponsor is through your myCompassion account or via the Compassion UK App. If you don’t yet have a myCompassion account, then you can create one here.
We have a selection of greeting designs for you to choose from, which you can personalise with a message and a photograph.
Alternatively, you’re welcome to send a hand-written card to our office. Simply pop it in an envelope and write the words ‘FREEPOST COMPASSION UK’ all in upper case on the front. Don’t forget to leave space in your card for translation and make sure you write both your reference number and the child you sponsor’s reference on the back.
Need some help?
Our friendly Supporter Experience Team are ready to help with any questions you might have.
01932 836490 - Lines are open from 11am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Please leave a voicemail if you call outside these hours and we’ll get in touch as soon as we can.
Compassion UK Christian Child Development, registered charity in England and Wales (1077216) and Scotland (SC045059). A company limited by guarantee, Registered in England and Wales company number 03719092. Registered address: Compassion House, Barley Way, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 2UT.