• Home
• Help a London Child

About Help a London Child (HALC)

Despite being one of the wealthiest cities in the world, London remains home to children suffering from abuse, poverty, homelessness, disability and illness. Help a London Child (HALC) specialises in funding grass-root projects to improve the lives of London's less advantaged children and young people.

History

Help a London Child was launched in 1975 by our founder Lord Attenborough, as Capital 95.8's charity. Over the last thirty years the charity has raised in excess of £20,000,000 and awarded that amount to over 10,000 small groups and charities.

What we do

Capital 95.8's Help a London Child (HALC) is a grant giving charity which means twice a year the charity provides practical and lasting support to thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under. Help a London Child grants aim to directly assist and give opportunities to the Capital's children and young people who:

• Experience poverty and disadvantage
• Have/are experiencing abuse, neglect, homelessness, violence or crime
• Have an illness or disability.

How do we decide where the money goes?

Each year, an independent panel from the voluntary sector assesses the hundreds of applications for funding received by HALC to decide where the money should go. HALC allocates grants to registered charities or voluntary and community groups that aim to make a positive difference to children and young people's lives. Grants are targeted at the areas of greatest need, and money is allocated geographically to ensure that children and young people in all corners of London receive a balanced share of the money raised. In 2006, 411 groups across London were awarded a share of £667,000.

How is the money raised?

Throughout the year HALC do lots of fundraising events including black-tie galas, sponsored treks and the Bupa Great Capital Run. The charity also relies on the generosity and imagination of the general public to donate money.