Children on the Edge works in coalition with local communities in some of the toughest places in the world, transforming the lives of marginalised children by creating protective environments where they can safely live, play, learn and grow.
2022 has been an incredible year of transformation for the children we work with, thanks to continued support of our Children on the Edge community. We'd love to invite you to grab a cup of tea and read through our monthly highlights from 2022 and see just how much your generosity is making a difference.......
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Children on the Edge is a Chichester based charity that works to support some of the worlds' most marginalised children, living in some of the toughest situations. The charity was co-founded in 1990 by Bishop Luffa graduate and Chichester resident, Rachel Bentley and the late Dame Anita Roddick. After witnessing the appalling conditions in Romanian orphanages first hand, Dame Anita Roddick mobilised her company, The Body Shop International, based in Littlehampton, to help. The Body Shop, sent supplies and a small group of volunteers, to help three orphanages in the remote village of Halaucesti. Rachel Bentley, a 23-year-old law graduate from Chichester, was one of these volunteers, and together, they sparked the response that created Children on the Edge, which exists to this day to support some of the most marginalised children around the world. By 1992, Rachel Bentley and Anita Roddick started the charity, Children on the Edge in an official capacity, together with The Body Shop. By this time, they had developed considerable expertise in working with institutionalised children in Eastern Europe, working through local partners, and coordinating all their work from offices in Chichester.
The charity is grateful for the incredible generosity and long term support of The Body Shop and other local Chichester businesses, including Montezuma's, Store Property, Wiley and many others over the years, who have made an incredible difference and made much of our work possible. Children on the Edge is also supported by a faithful community of supporters in West Sussex and beyond. Local schools, churches, individuals and organisations as well as consultants from The Body Shop At Home, have raised thousands of pounds to support our work with marginalised children around the world. Our historic flagship fundraising event, the Chichester Half Marathon was brilliantly supported by the Chichester community during the years that we were involved (up to 2019), and the event raised tens of thousands of pounds for our vital work around the world. The event is now run by Everyone Active. |
1. Become a Regular Donor Regular, reliable income ensures that we can continue to support marginalised children living on the edge, as we have been doing for over 30 years. Find out more >> |
2. Join Our Latest Virtual Challenge Whether it be walking, yoga or a fitness challenge and no matter where you are, you can get involved with our virtual challenges. Find out more >> |
3. Fundraise in your Workplace Perfect for team-building, strengthening relationships and making a difference, why not fundraise at work? Find out more >> |
4. Become a Corporate Partner With transforming benefits for your business, your staff and your customers, and the chance to be at the heart of bringing hope to children around the world, there are so many reasons to start a partnership with us. Contact us to have a chat >> |
5. Hold your own Event We love hearing and supporting your ideas, there are unlimited options! Have a think, be creative, either on your own, or as part of a club, school or faith group. Find out more >> |
6. Fundraise at School Support us with a one-off fundraising event or activity, get involved for a term or become a long-term partner. Or invite us in for an assembly if you're thinking about supporting Children on the Edge at school. Find out more >> |
What Makes Us Different?
We’re agile: Our size gives us the flexibility to meet the needs of the people we work with quickly and effectively. For example, if our partners are faced with a sudden flood, increased air raids or arrests, then we can respond immediately, building support or adapting the programme accordingly to continue to meet the needs of the children we work with.
We’re streamlined: We don’t rely on large and costly international staff offices in the countries we work in. Instead, we focus on building strong relationships with our local partners who have a thorough understanding of the situation on the ground and a depth of relationships with their communities. Our office in Chichester, West Sussex, has 13 staff members and we also employ a regional manager in Asia.
We’re focused: Having a small number of projects means we can focus on delivering work of the highest quality. We fine tune our projects and ensure that each child is valued as an individual.
We keep you connected: Our size means that our donors and supporters can have a real connection and ownership with the work they are investing in. Your money doesn’t go into a huge machine, but to a small (but perfectly formed!) group of projects from which you are updated on regularly. This means you can see the changes that you are making possible.
In the kind of work we do of supporting children in some of the toughest situations across the world there are so many benefits to being a small organisation like us. You can rest assured that your money is always being spent wisely and where the need is greatest.
On average, for every pound spent by Children on the Edge, 86p goes towards our work with marginalised children around the world. This money helps to support local communities in creating safe, child friendly spaces, where children are able to realise their rights and look to a better future.
The rest covers our fundraising costs to bring in a sustainable, steady stream of income to keep our projects running smoothly, along with all our UK office overheads.
We are so grateful to receive one-off donations from individuals, from fundraising activities and events, as well as fantastic contributions from trusts, foundations and corporate partners. In addition... an excellent way that you can support us, that really does pack a punch, is a regular, monthly donation.
Supporting Children on the Edge: 5 reasons why being a small charity makes a big difference
1/6/2022
1. We can work under the radar
Being small has enabled us to access situations that larger organisations cannot, due to their size and the corresponding limitations and bureaucracy. For example, from 2011, for six years we were the only organisation providing education in safe spaces to Rohingya refugee children from Myanmar in the largest makeshift camp in Bangladesh. We attribute this in part, to our compact size. Since the influx of Rohingya refugees after attacks escalated in August 2017, a huge number of larger organisations arrived to contribute help, and we have replicated our community based education model to meet gaps in provision of education.
2. We’re agile
Our size enables us to have the flexibility to meet needs in a targeted way, as they arise, quickly and in a relational manner. If our partners are faced with a crisis, like dropping temperatures, fires within crowded camps, the explosion in Beirut, sudden floods, increased air raids or arrests, then we can respond immediately, garnering support or adapting the programme accordingly to continue to meet the needs of the children we work with.
3. We’re streamlined
We don’t rely on large and costly international staff offices in the countries we work in. Instead, we focus on building strong relationships with our local partners who have a thorough understanding of the situation on the ground and a depth of relationship with their communities.
4. We’re focused
Having a small number of projects means we can focus on delivering work of the highest quality. Larger organisations have a higher capacity, but deal very much in 'broad brush strokes', where as we have the ability to fine tune and ensure that each child is valued as an individual.
5. We keep you connected
Our small size means that our donors and supporters can have a greater connection and ownership with the work they are investing in. Your money doesn’t go into a huge machine, but to a small (but perfectly formed!) group of projects which you are updated on regularly, seeing tangibly and specifically the ongoing progress that you are making possible.
Read more about our work and how we help.
This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias, and it asks us to imagine a gender equal world, a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Children on the Edge envisions a world in which every child thrives regardless of their geography, ethnicity, gender, or caste. So we’d like to introduce some of the women that most inspire us, and how they’re contributing to ‘breaking the bias’.

It will come as no surprise that our focus in 2020-2021 has been responding to the coronavirus pandemic and it’s devastating effects in every area where we work.
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