Variety, The Children’s Charity provides practical, life-changing support to disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.
There are currently 4.3 million children living in poverty in the U.K, with 600,000 children both disabled and living in poverty. Variety’s programmes make an immediate and lasting difference to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people by directly improving their wellbeing and quality of life. As well as improving physical and mental health, Variety’s support enables children to reach their full potential.
In 2024, His Majesty King Charles III graciously accepted the Patronage of Variety, the Children's Charity. This historic milestone coincided with Variety’s 75th anniversary and stands as a testament to the trusted role that Variety plays as a national children's charity meeting the needs of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Variety supports children and young people through four key programmes:
Wheelchairs & Specialist Equipment: We directly provide manual, sport, and powered wheelchairs to help children become more independent. We also deliver life-changing equipment including specialised educational and adaptive play equipment, hoists, walkers, beds, furniture and specialist car seats.
Sunshine Coaches: We provide fully accessible, adapted minibuses for SEND schools and non-profit organisations. Our Sunshine Coaches are valuable community assets, opening up a world of opportunities, enabling tens of thousands of children to access life-changing experiences every day.
Variety Great Days Out: We provide unforgettable, exciting, educational, and fun experiences for disadvantaged children.
Access Interns: Our supported work experience programme partners with companies big and small to empower young people with disabilities to kickstart their careers.
In 2024 Variety reached over 160,399 children and young people in the UK including:
130 children received wheelchairs and equipment
79,300 children were supported through our Sunshine Coaches programme
7,956 children attended Variety Great Days Out across 132 towns and cities
73,000 children and young people were supported at the Variety Children's Hospital
Variety, The Children’s Charity receives no statutory funding and is reliant on the support of generous donors without which Variety’s work would not be possible.
Variety can only work at scale through the support of volunteers who give their time freely to assist the operations of the charity. These include volunteers sitting on Variety’s Special Equipment, Wheelchairs and Grantmaking Committees as well as committees assisting with fundraising and delivery in Scotland, Wessex, the Midlands and the North-West.