This Small Charity Week, join us in a national challenge to collectively walk, run, or cycle 364 miles - the distance between our registered office and our furthest member, Queen’s University Belfast. Support us in raising much needed funds to help us empower care experienced young people to access, navigate, and thrive through higher education into careers, which will sustain them for life.
Why are we walking
Attending university significantly enhances social mobility by providing access to higher-paying jobs, broader career opportunities, and increased earning potential. In the UK, around 2,100 of the 10,000 young people leaving care each year attend university, but only 1,300 of these students go on to graduate. Against the backdrop of nearly 1 million UK graduates each year, NNECL are dedicated to transforming the educational outcomes of young people from care, estranged, and sanctuary-seeking backgrounds.
Many care experienced students face unique challenges on their path to higher education, including limited financial, mental health, and emotional support, as well as a lack of guidance and opportunities.
#WalkforNNECL is an opportunity to do your bit and help raise a bit of money to support our work and help embed inclusive policies and supportive practices within universities and higher education institutions. Your contribution will help us ensures our young people have access to the right support at the right time, all the way from when they decide to apply to university to their graduation and beyond.
Campaign goals
Raising Awareness: We will raise awareness of the barriers faced by care leavers and young people who are estranged, helping more professionals in schools, colleges, universities, and leaving care teams understand the impact of a traumatic childhood on young people’s life chances.
Supporting Learners: With increased capacity, we will enhance our support for young people in our Student Voices Network by providing them with opportunities to build career connections and develop the social networks that will empower them to access opportunities and gain the momentum needed to achieve their goals.
How to participate
Join the challenge: 23 - 30 June 2025
- Sign up using the form below
- Share your plans with your friends and family using our pack below and collect sponsorship and donations for the NNECL Big Give Campaign.
- Download the StepUp app - it’s free and easy to use.
- We’ll create a group on StepUp and share an invitation link via the email you provide so you can join the challenge. For more details, visit the FAQs section.
- Walk, run, or cycle any distance, solo or with a team, to help us reach our collective goal of 364 miles.
- Submit a screenshot of your activity to [email protected] to log your miles.
- Share your journey online using #WalkforNNECL.
- Tag us on: Instagram | LinkedIn | BlueSky
Ways to Support
1. Take Part: Join the #WalkforNNECL challenge and show your support by walking, running, or cycling. Every mile and every pound makes a difference.
2. Donate: Help us reach our goal of £5,000. Donate now.
How to donate
All donations must be made through our official campaign page on the Big Give platform to be eligible for match funding.
Donation window:
Only donations made during midday Monday 23 June to midday Monday 30 June 2025 will be matched.
Accepted payment methods:
Debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or BACS (for donations of £500+).
Note: Big Give will not match donations made via cheque, CAF, or other platforms.
BACS donations:
For donations of £500 or more, BACS is available. For such payments, please initiate early. BACS transfers must be received before the campaign ends to qualify for match funding.
Match funding time limit:
Once you begin your donation, you’ll have 30 minutes to complete it.
If time runs out, you can either continue without a match or restart, however, match funds are not guaranteed.
Donation limits:
- Minimum: £1
- Maximum: £25,000
3. Spread the Word: Raise awareness in your network. Tag us, repost or share our posts on social media, or encourage your organisation to get involved.
Join #WalkforNNECL now!
Campaign participation pack:
