Our vision, mission and values

Our vision

There will always be a need for some children to be cared for away from their birth families, so we are helping to create a world where:

• all children in care are raised by people who care for, value and respect them

• every child in care's unique potential is recognised and nurtured

• all children in care receive the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to enjoy their life and to achieve

• there is recognition of the support and resources that children coming into care are likely to need in order to address traumatic pre-care experiences of abuse, neglect and serious family dysfunction

• those acting as corporate parents understand fully their responsibilities for developing and safeguarding the children they care for.

With the right help and people in their lives who believe in them, every child in care can thrive.  The Who Cares? Trust is dedicated to making this vision a reality.

Our mission and purpose

Everything we do is designed to improve the day to day experience of children in care and their future lives. The Who Cares? Trust is a voice for all children in care: we listen to what they say about their experiences and identify with them where improvements can be made, and then we work in partnership with those able to help us bring about positive change. We do this by:

• using our expertise and influence with government policy-makers  

• informing, empowering and supporting children and young people in care, through our magazines and other publications and through projects and campaigns which directly benefit them

• producing information and support materials for foster carers and professionals (such as social workers, teachers and health workers) as a means to improving the lives of children in care.   

Our values

We are aspirational - we believe in the unique potential of every child in care and their right to enjoy life and achieve.  

We are dynamic - we work energetically, creatively and with determination to make care a good place in which to grow up.   

We are engaged - we actively listen to and talk with children and young people in care and other people and organisations with expertise and insights that can help, from around the world.

We are independent - we always act and speak in the best interests of children in care and we are not compromised by any political or commercial interests.

We are transparent and accessible - we communicate clearly what we do, why we do it and how we spend the donations we receive.