Charity secures £4m gift to advance rights of children and young people, provide legal services

Coram has received a £4m gift from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF), the largest single donation in its history, to fund The Hamlyn Endowment for the Rights and Voice of Children.

The charity said the monies would provide a significant boost to its work advancing the rights of children and young people and ensuring that their voices are heard.

It will also help with the provision of legal services for vulnerable children and their families.

Dr Carol Homden, Chief Executive Officer of Coram, said: “We are creating the space to bring together people from all walks of life to champion a better world where all children have the chance and the resources they need to live a fulfilling life. Sadly, today, still too many children and young people in the UK do not get the help and support they need, and this generous gift from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation will enable us to advance the Coram children’s rights centre and to realise our ambitious plans for the future.

“This landmark gift is a reflection of the outstanding commitment of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to those who are marginalised and to their strong and continuing leadership role in philanthropy at a critical time. The Hamlyn Endowment will enable Coram to work with hundreds more young people and build their own ability to act as advocates and directly benefit thousands more through building the charity’s capacity to provide legal advice to children and families who struggle for representation.”

Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said: “Coram offers direct, practical help and emotional support to vulnerable children, young people and their families - a service they have been offering for hundreds of years, and one that speaks to many of our areas of interest, including giving young people voice, supporting migrants, social justice, arts and access to education.

“We know just how valuable long term, consistent and flexible funding can be to organisations. At a time when civil society is under financial stress, and the world around us feels increasingly fractured, we feel the need to act, to show our backing for some key organisations, ones that we see as critical to and influential in the sectors we support, and it is for this reason that we have made this decision to endow Coram.”