Variety, the children's charity

Who we are

We are Variety, the Children’s Charity. In the UK, there are more than 600,000 disabled children living in poverty. Variety exists to improve their lives. We believe every child has a right to live their best life and reach their full potential, whoever they are. We fund and deliver life-changing programmes that enhance their quality of life and give children and young people across the UK a better future.

This extraordinary charity, with 75 years of history in the UK and global prominence, has granted close to £1.6 billion globally to positively impact the lives of children in need. From its humble beginnings inspired by the adoption of an abandoned baby, Catherine Variety Sheridan, to its current status as one of the most trusted children's charities globally, Variety has consistently raised funds and provided support to make a real and immediate difference in the lives of young beneficiaries.

Over the past 75 years, we have supported over one million children by funding almost 6,000 Sunshine Coaches, almost the same number of wheelchairs, and giving thousands of grants to individual children, schools, youth clubs and other organisations for specialist equipment. Variety is also involved with a number of capital projects which transform the facilities of hospitals and SEN schools. In addition, each year tens of thousands of children take part in day trips, special events and educational activities as part of our Variety Great Days Out programme and every single day we are improving more young lives. We do it with practical, tangible help. Help that makes a real and immediate difference.

In 2025, we celebrated Variety's 75th anniversary, one made all the more special by the announcement that His Majesty, King Charles III has chosen Variety for Royal Patronage. Going forward, this offers an amazing opportunity to bring Variety’s work to the attention of even more communities across the UK.

We are seeking exceptional volunteers who can help us transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the UK. With your support across our grant programmes, we will be able to deliver on our ambition to double the number of children who benefit from Variety’s support over the next three years and beyond.

We hope that you will share our passionate commitment to improving the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK. This is an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of our renowned charity as we enter our next chapter with the honour of Royal Patronage from His Majesty King Charles III.

Our culture and values

Our values form the foundation of everything we do in our mission to support children and young people.
⚫ Compassion: We believe every child should have the opportunity to live, laugh, learn, and experience life to the fullest. Our commitment to compassionate service drives us to take meaningful action that creates real change in children’s lives.
⚫ Courage: We fearlessly uphold our belief that every child has the right to develop their full potential and are committed to challenging the inequality, inequity and prejudice against children wherever we find it.
⚫ Dignity: We embrace and celebrate the unique potential of every child, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. We foster an environment of dignity, understanding, and acceptance that empowers children and their families.
⚫ Commitment: We are committed to seeking creative solutions and adapting our approaches to meet the evolving needs of the children we serve. Our innovative spirit is guided by our commitment to delivering meaningful, life-changing support.
⚫ Collaboration: We believe in the power of partnership and work closely with families, welfare professionals, schools, and community organisations to deliver our support where it’s needed.

⚫ Trust: We uphold the highest standards of integrity in our operations, ensuring that our resources are used effectively and efficiently. We maintain open communication with our stakeholders and honour the trust placed in us.
⚫ Excellence: We strive for excellence in everything we do, from our programmes and services to our interactions with children, families, and stakeholders. We measure our success by the positive differences we make in children’s lives.
⚫ Empowerment: We provide children with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. We believe in empowering children to reach their full potential.
⚫ These values guide our decisions, shape our culture, and inspire our commitment to creating a world where every child can flourish, regardless of their challenges. Our values represent not just what we believe, but how we act in delivering our mission to improve young lives every day. Our vision is that every child should receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Inclusion is one of our key values. It is our ambition to recruit great people from diverse communities. We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment/identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy/maternity and or marriage/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief.