Impact Report 2025

We set agendas through our reports and calls to action, forge powerful partnerships with foundations, businesses, young people, campaigners and civil society organizations. We unlock financing and political will at the highest level while innovating solutions focused on the most marginalised.

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L-R Justin van Fleet (President), Sarah Brown (Chair)

A message from our Chair of Trustees and President

Theirworld takes pride in how we build coalitions and collaborations; in how we enable the grassroots to flourish so they can influence the summits of power; in how our projects make a difference to young people’s lives ‘in 140 countries.

Our activities involve people from all walks of life because we have learned that only by working together can we create long-lasting change for children and youth. Theirworld is on an exciting and rewarding journey. We invite you to join us.

2002

Our foundation

For more than two decades, Theirworld has been dedicated to innovation, campaigning and project delivery designed to give children and young people the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. The charity was founded in 2002 with the initial aim of supporting scientific and community research on the most vulnerable new-born babies and children in the UK.

Its pioneering work continues today with the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort.

2004

Starting small

In 2004, Theirworld’s Small Grants Programme was launched, focusing on enabling breakthroughs in health and education at the community level. Since its inception, more than £1 million has been invested in local grassroots organisations supporting thousands of young people.

2012

Global reach

In 2012, Theirworld’s work turned global with a movement, A World at School, created to galvanise support for education financing and especially for children caught up in emergencies. In the same year, the Global Business Coalition for Education was founded as an initiative of Theirworld to boost education by collaborating with the business community.

2015-16

Education for refugees

In 2015-16 Theirworld’s leadership on education in emergencies had a major early success with the double-shift school scheme for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a plan backed by UN agencies and taken forward by the Lebanese Ministry of Education. It led to more than 300,000 displaced children receiving an education in Lebanon.

Present

Over the years

Theirworld’s campaigns have generated the world’s largest petition for education ever delivered to the United Nations, and supported a new financing facility set to deliver billions of dollars of investment into lower-income countries. Our Act For Early Years campaign has gained global attention, placing the early years at the heart of new G20 commitments and demanding at least $1 billion for early childhood education and funding.

Our global reach

You can find Theirworld at work in communities around the world.

Our five-year strategy: The impact so far

In 2025 we embark on the third year of our five-year strategy. We have set ourselves demanding targets. We are on track to achieve our goals and are proud of what has been achieved to date. We have:

Impacted more than 34 million learners, educators and caregivers through our projects, emergency responses and innovation awards
Mobilized a network of campaign partners around the world, leading to commitments to the early years at Brazil’s G20 Summit
Trained 2,204 young people in our Global Youth Ambassador programme, bringing the total to 8,477 youth
Invested in 40 projects, 36 community grant initiatives, and thousands of young people in 141 countries
Invested in regional hubs and partners, with more than 80% of our projects locally run and managed
Welcomed new businesses to our Global Business Coalition for Education, including household names Google, Microsoft and Stellantis

Why I support Theirworld

Supporters of Theirworld and GBC-Education include global corporations and executives, major social enterprises, charitable foundations, and prominent entrepreneurs. Throughout our history we have also succeeded in galvanising their commitments with financial action from donor governments such as the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Scandinavia and the EU.

When supporting a charity, it is important to believe in the mission, leadership and strategy. That is why I support Theirworld’s work which continues to make an impact in the lives of children around the world.
Kate James – heads Kairos Philanthropy, her family foundation, chairs the Board of Vital Voices, and serves on the boards of Unreasonable, the US Board of the King’s Trust and World Reader.

Project highlights

Our mission is to ensure every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. Across these three pillars, we harness the potential of education in five vital areas: climate action, gender equality, inclusion, peace and security, and health and nutrition.

Our work

As a Theirworld Trustee and donor, I believe in the impact the organisation makes for young children throughout the world. From the projects I have seen firsthand, Theirworld is unlocking big change.
Lucy Doughty – Trustee of Theirworld and Chair of the Doughty Family Foundation, an organisation working in the areas of health, financial hardship, and education.

Featured campaign: Act For Early Years

More than half of all young children, a staggering 350 million, do not have the access they need to childcare, and at least 175 million children are not enrolled in preschool programmes. Yet during these crucial years before the age of five, 90% of brain growth occurs. Underinvestment therefore has profound consequences on a child’s prospects, with millions left behind from the start.

Recruited major celebrities

such as actor and comedian Matt Lucas and former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt to pretend to be toddlers in videos supporting a ‘Global Tantrum’ campaign.

Published research, briefings and policy reports

covered by the Financial Times, Economist, New York Times and Politico Europe

Mobilised our Global Youth Ambassadors

to amplify the voices of young children at national and local levels in countries throughout the world.

Run major public advertising campaigns

with our partners Omnicom to capture the attention of leaders during global summits in New York and Rio de Janeiro.

Built a high-level campaign advisory group

with stakeholders from business, government, academia, civil society and the nonprofit community.

Investing in Theirworld has high returns for young people throughout the world. By championing the Big Give, I have been able to leverage my contribution 4:1 – making a greater impact towards ending the global education crisis.
Stuart Roden – non-Executive Chair of Hetz Ventures, Tresidor Investment Management and Chair of Lewis Advisors. Stuart is also Chair and Founder of Unlocking Potential and Chair of The Design Museum.

Our Global Youth Ambassadors

Theirworld established the Global Youth Ambassador programme in 2012 to train, connect and support the next generation of youth campaigners for social change. The programme has grown from a handful of young people to a trained network of 8,000 ambassadors from more than 140 countries. The initiative elevates the voices of young people by giving them the skills and confidence to lead in their communities and on the global stage. Programme graduates have gone on to win global prizes, run successful social enterprises, work at UN organisations, author books and specialise in corporate sustainability. Read more here

Andressa Dos Reis Ferreira, Brazil, 22

“Being at UNGA was more than just a transformative way to empower my activism. It was a unique and powerful experience that I never imagined I would have access to at such a young age.”

Sarah Baharaki UK, 29

“I believe young people can dream of a better world—and make it a reality.”

Helping Theirworld unlock big change

We’d like to say a huge thank you to our long-term partners who have given us such vital support.

If you’d like to see your logo alongside this fantastic group of businesses, please contact us [email protected]

Join us

Theirworld is more than an organisation. It is a network of youth, social entrepreneurs, campaigners, businesses and researchers striving to ensure all young people have the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future.

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