08:00, 02 September 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
International Day of Charity is one of our favourite days of the year here at Smiley News. From small community initiatives to international organisations, voices from across the sector have shared powerful reflections on the values, impact, and purpose that drive their missions.
Keep reading as we bring together the voices, adding a snapshot of how charity continues to inspire hope, foster connection, and spark change in communities across the UK and beyond.
SOS Children's Villages is a global charity that provides family-like care, education, and support for children without parental care or at risk of losing it. Operating in over 130 countries, it focuses on long-term child development and family strengthening.
What does charity mean to you? – "When a child has someone who stands by them, believes in them, and supports them, they can grow into their strongest self and take on the world. This is why we're here" - SOS Children's Villages International
Three emojis that represent your work – 💙👨👩👧🚀
Statistics that you’re proud of – In 2024, SOS Children's Villages reached more than 7.5 million children, young people and adults in 137 countries and territories worldwide.
Comic Relief raises funds through entertainment and public donations to tackle poverty and social injustice in the UK and worldwide.
What does charity mean to you? – “To us at Comic Relief, charity is the beauty of comedy, compassion and joy bringing communities together in the most wonderful way. It is about people helping people; championing empathy and care; and coming together to inspire real and meaningful change.” – Angharad McKenzie, Director of Fundraising at Comic Relief
Three emojis that represent your work – 😂 🌟❤️
Statistics that you’re proud of – Comic Relief supporters have helped support over 100 million people by raising over £1.6 billion over the past 40 years.
Islamic Relief is a humanitarian organisation providing emergency aid and sustainable development to communities affected by poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
What does charity mean to you? – “For us at Islamic Relief, charity is an unwavering and sincere commitment to help and serve those less fortunate. Driven by our faith and compassion that every life is equal and of paramount importance, and our strong sense of social justice, in striving to enable people to fulfil the rights of the poor and vulnerable. But, charity is also about community, as we would be nothing without our supporters, whether they donate pennies or thousands. We work with communities across the UK to ensure we can all act together to save and transform lives”
Three emojis that represent your work – ✊🌍🌿
Statistics that you’re proud of – Last year [2024], we're proud to announce that we reached 14.5m people worldwide with lifesaving aid.
Save the Children works to improve the lives of vulnerable children worldwide through education, healthcare, and emergency aid.
What does charity mean to you? – “Save the Children’s ambition is a world in which every child has the right to survive, learn and be protected no matter where they’re growing up. We were founded on the belief that every child deserves the chance of a future. This belief underpins everything we do. Charity to us means supporting children by putting their rights at the core of all our work so that we can help them learn, grow and become who they want to be.”
Three emojis that represent your work – 🩺🍲📚
Statistics that you’re proud of – In 2024, the Save the Children global movement directly supported 41.2m children in 93 countries around the world.
CARE International fights global poverty and injustice, focusing on empowering women and supporting communities in crisis.
What does charity mean to you? – “For CARE International UK, charity is not a distant act of giving but an expression of solidarity. We walk side by side with women and communities hit by crisis as they build their own futures with strength and dignity.”
Three emojis that represent your work – 👩💪🌍
Statistics that you’re proud of – Last year*, CARE reached 21.8 million people with emergency response - providing food and cash to meet daily needs, helping people access safe shelter and clean water, and supporting them to rebuild farms and businesses.
*financial year (June 2023 - July 2024)
Young Lives vs Cancer supports children and young people with cancer, offering practical, emotional, and financial help to them and their families.
What does charity mean to you? – "Young Lives vs Cancer is there for every child and young person with cancer and their families. Cancer does not discriminate and we support everyone, no matter what their circumstances, so that a cancer diagnosis doesn't hold children and young people back." - CEO Rachel Kirby-Rider
Three emojis that represent your work – 👪🏠🚂
Statistics that you’re proud of – Last year, our social work teams provided support to 6,849 children and young people with cancer and their families.
Brooke improves the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules in developing countries, promoting animal welfare and supporting dependent communities.
What does charity mean to you? – “For Brooke, charity is about giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.Every working animal we help is a story of resilience, hope, and partnership between humans and animals."
Three emojis that represent your work – 🐴 🌍 🫏
Statistics that you’re proud of – In 2023/24, Brooke helped more than 32 million horses and donkeys globally through its advocacy work.
Guide Dogs UK provides guide dogs and support services to help blind and partially sighted people live independently and confidently.
What does charity mean to you? – “At Guide Dogs, we’re here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. As a charity, this means our life-changing support is available to everyone who needs it - from children to adults, to friends and family members.”
Three emojis that represent your work – 🦮💛🦯
Statistics that you’re proud of – Guide Dogs is the largest charity provider of services for children and young people with sight loss in the UK.
Age UK supports older people across the UK through advice, companionship, and services to improve wellbeing and tackle loneliness.
What does charity mean to you? – There's so much to be disheartened about in our world at present that it tends to overshadow the good things going on, among them the amazing work carried out by many charities for a huge range of causes - from saving the planet, to animal welfare, emergency relief, support for children and for older people, to mention just a few. The International Day of Charity is an opportunity to correct this imbalance, to cheer ourselves up and to recognise the fantastic contributions of millions of people who work or volunteer for charities. If you talk to them many would also say that they get as much or even more back than they put in - something we can all learn from in our daily lives."- Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK
Three emojis that represent your work –💜 📞 📝
(symbolising their telephone services and campaigning work)
Statistics that you’re proud of – Over 5.3 million minutes of friendship calls were provided through the Age UK Telephone Friendship Service.
Refuge offers support and shelter to women and children escaping domestic abuse, advocating for their safety and rights.
What does charity mean to you? – “Charity, to Refuge, means empowering survivors to live free from domestic abuse – through lifesaving specialist support, raising awareness and campaigning for a world where abuse is not tolerated.”
Three emojis that represent your work – 🩷✨✊
Statistics that you’re proud of – Last year, 10,596 incredible supporters took part in a challenge event for Refuge – helping us raise vital funds and awareness for survivors of domestic abuse.
Combat Stress provides mental health support to former servicemen and women dealing with trauma, PTSD, and other related conditions.
What does charity mean to you? – “Charity means people coming together to achieve incredible things.”
Three emojis that represent your work –
Statistics that you’re proud of – On average, 73% of those who undertake our treatment recover from PTSD, meaning they no longer meet the clinical criteria for PTSD. This is an incredible impact and significantly above the recovery rate for PTSD of other mental health services.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity funds world-leading cancer research, equipment, and care at The Royal Marsden hospital.
What does charity mean to you? – “Charity means people coming together to achieve incredible things.”
Three emojis that represent your work –
Statistics that you’re proud of – Our supporters helped us to fund the world-leading research facility, the Oak Cancer Centre. Last year, over 180 studies carried out here were approved for delivery - all with the aim to improve the lives of people living with cancer.
Twins Trust is a UK charity supporting families with twins, triplets and more, providing practical advice, resources, and emotional support. It also funds research and promotes safer pregnancy and birth outcomes for multiple births.
What does charity mean to you? – “Our charity facilitates a network of community support and provides a voice for families with multiples.”
Three emojis that represent your work – 🫶👶📣
Statistics that you’re proud of – In the past year, Twins Trust has supported more than 16,500 families with multiples.
