Bethany Children's Trust

Who we are

BCT is a Christian charity for children at risk, in Africa and beyond.

We are dedicated to mobilising Christians to respond to the needs of vulnerable children. Our vision is to equip the Christian Church to lead the way in building a local and global society where children at risk are loved, valued, safe, nurtured and free to reach their God-given potential. To achieve this, we partner with church-led, community-based projects, helping to restore the lives of some of the world’s most marginalised children.

What we do

BCT equips churches to reach out to children at risk in their communities.

These children at risk include those affected by abuse, HIV, homelessness and poverty, disabled children and even those accused of witchcraft. Through workshops, advocacy and collaborative relationships, we’re working with, and through, our partner projects to:

  • combat ignorance and cultural beliefs that leave children at risk of harm.
  • teach parents about ways to bring up their children.
  • provide families with ways to earn a living and provide for themselves.
  • mobilise local churches to teach about child protection and lead the way in creating societies where children can flourish.

Get involved

There are many ways you can be part of BCT. For example, pray for us and our project partners, make a financial gift to help us reach more marginalised children, or become a BCT Ambassador.

Pray Act

Annual report and accounts

For detailed information about BCT's activities and finances, please download our annual report and accounts.

Download

Help us Reach More Marginalised Children

Become a BCT Ambassador

Find out more

How we do it

BCT believes in the Church.

Churches and Christian groups are often motivated by faith to care for the neediest in society. They also have the regard and respect of their local communities and the potential to influence societal beliefs, attitudes and practices for good. This makes them ideal agents to care for orphans and marginalised children. BCT mobilises churches for this vital work. We support churches by equipping them with guidance, advice, training, information resources and finance, so that they are able to maintain, develop and multiply the impact of their work and to better achieve their vision for restoring children’s lives.

The training we offer our partners may cover a range of topics related to project management and development or to the care and protection of children. The approach is always participatory and ‘training of trainers,’ so that knowledge and understanding can be shared with others and the impact increased.

Our partners in Zambia and Rwanda work with local churches to support families with disabled children, and to raise awareness of the needs and rights of disabled people. Support groups, physiotherapy and sourcing of mobility aids make a tangible difference in the lives of children with disabilities. We and our partners are seeing disabled children becoming stronger, more confident and increasingly independent.

It is thought that tens of thousands of innocent children have been accused of witchcraft and abused, stigmatised and even killed because of it. As a member organisation of the Stop Child Witch Accusations coalition, BCT is raising awareness of this issue, supporting affected churches, and creating training resources and events to help church and community leaders to tackle accusations of witchcraft against children.

Over 2 million children in the world are living with HIV. Particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, children with the virus can be stigmatised and left on the margins, as well as struggling to get the healthcare and emotional support they need. Our Rwandan partner offers support and advice to young people affected by HIV, and strives to change attitudes, so that churches and communities are more accepting of people living with the virus.

For street-living children, everyday life is a constant struggle for survival. LVLE, our partner in DR Congo, is reaching out to children on the streets of Goma; building relationships, helping them recover from traumatic experiences, and ultimately aiming to help them build a new life, away from the streets.

Countless children worldwide are at risk of significant harm through neglect, abuse, homelessness and preventable diseases. BCT is committed to working towards the protection of as many children as possible, funding training workshops about childcare and protection, children’s rights and the prevention of violence, for our partner projects. Our partners aim to enshrine child protection in whole communities: training church leaders, parents and community leaders, so that they can go on to train others.

Our Ambassadors Say

I love being an Ambassador for The Bethany Children's Trust, because I know that by raising awareness about their work, I am directly helping marginalised children.
Josi
I feel really privileged to be a BCT Ambassador. BCT's work is so important and I just want everyone to know about it!
Lynn
It’s a privilege to be able to help in some small way by spreading the word of the work of BCT to my friends, family and also through my local church.
Carol

Support our work today

DONATE NOW