2025 has been a remarkable year for Send My Friend to School, even in the face of significant challenges. With the UK government’s plans to reduce official development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027 and ongoing restrictions on young people accessing education worldwide, our work has never been more urgent. We kicked off the year in March with our campaign launch themed “Invest in My Friend’s Learning,” calling on the UK government to increase investment in education and uphold its commitment to achieving SDG4.

Campaign Champions: Youth Empowering Youth

Aligned with this campaign theme, we had 18 young campaign champions from 8 schools from across the UK during our residentials program in March 2025. The young people were encouraged to campaign in solidarity with their peers globally, championing the belief that education is a basic human right and not a privilege. They emphasized that no child should be denied access to learning due to gender, race, background, or location.

Campaign Champions Residentials, 2025

A core message from the campaign champions was clear: if the UK is in a position to support students around the world to go to school, it must prioritise resources for education. These young people recognized that their own access to education should translate into advocacy for equal opportunities globally. Their campaigns highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in education, particularly as the cuts threaten to deprive 2.2 million children of learning opportunities. This urgency was powerfully illustrated in May 2025 when campaigners from Send My Friend to School staged a protest outside the Education World Forum, highlighting that UK aid cuts are leaving classrooms empty and hitting the world’s most vulnerable children, especially girls. Read more here – Aid cuts = empty classrooms.

Campaigners protesting outside the Education World Forum

Parliamentary Action Day

In June 2025, the campaign champions brought their message to Westminster for Parliamentary Action Day. They met with the Minister for International Development, Baroness Chapman, dropped a letter to 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, and engaged with over 20 MPs during an MP drop-in session. The young people advocated for equal educational opportunities worldwide, showcased their school and community campaigns, and reinforced the importance of funding initiatives like Education Cannot Wait and the Global Partnership for Education, with a special focus on girls’ education and inclusive access for all.

Campaign Champions assemble with Send My Friend Banners in Westminster

Young Ambassadors: Voices from Uganda

Each year, alongside our campaign champions, Send My Friend hosts young ambassadors from other countries. Unfortunately this year, due to visa denials Queen and Santos were not able to come to the UK for their advocacy visit. Instead, we produced a short film of Queen and Santos, refugees from South Sudan that had to flee conflict and faced significant educational challenges. Watch the video here. They have experienced teacher shortages, limited resources, child marriage in their school, and inadequate sanitation for girls. Despite these obstacles, Queen and Santos believe deeply in the power of education to shape their futures and aspire to become positive, impactful members of society.

Young Ambassador, Queen, from Uganda.

Young Ambassador, Santos, from Uganda.

Now, with all these efforts and campaigning from our young ambassadors and campaign champions, considering the challenges facing global education and the UK government’s aid cuts, one question remains: what does the UK public think? Do people truly support the government’s decision to reduce its official development assistance?

Recent polling by YouGov, commissioned by Send My Friend to School, shows that 55% of the UK public believe the overseas aid budget should be used to ensure children in developing countries can access education. Support is even higher among 18–24-year-olds (74%) and Labour voters (68%). The survey also found that 35% of people believe investing in girls’ education overseas will have a positive impact on the UK, compared with just 10% who see a negative impact. These results demonstrate strong public backing for global education, despite the government’s proposed aid cuts.

Primary School Action: St. Patrick’s in Leamington

At St. Patrick’s Primary School in Leamington, 500 pupils from 15 local primary schools joined together with the Mayor to present letters and campaign actions to their local MP’s office. The Year 6 pupils inspired everyone with their speeches, asking, “How many more dreams will be lost if we don’t act?” and declaring, “Education is not a privilege, it is a right.” It was a brilliant day of youth action and solidarity, reminding us why our campaign exists.

Send My Friend’s visit to St. Patrick’s Primary School in Leamington

Party Conferences: Advocating Across the Political Spectrum

Our campaign champions also made their voices heard at this year’s party conferences.

At the 2025 Labour Party Conference, our Campaign Champions shared their passion for global education, advocating that all children, regardless of where they live, deserve access to learning. Over the day, they met with more than 20 MPs, including Bambos Charalambous, and even spoke briefly with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. The experience helped them gain confidence in public speaking and strengthened their ability to represent their campaign effectively. Leading the roundtable discussions with MPs was a highlight and an inspiring way to end the year.

Campaign Champions meeting the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, at the Labour Party Conference

Our Campaign Champions attended the Conservative Party Conference, meeting with over 14 MPs to highlight recent aid budget cuts and advocate for prioritising global education. The day’s key event was a roundtable on education featuring Harriet Baldwin MP, where discussions focused on the impact of aid cuts and the need to maintain the UK’s commitment to every child’s right to education. Panellists shared data and case studies, emphasising the urgent importance of advancing girls’ education worldwide. The conference provided a valuable platform for young people to raise their voices and push for meaningful change.

Campaign Champions at the Conservative Party Conference

Campaign Champions attended the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth to raise awareness about global education and advocate for maintaining at least 15% of the UK’s overseas aid budget for education. They engaged directly with MPs, including Alison Bennett, Monica Harding, Tim Farron, Wendy Chamberlain, and Lord Purvis, discussing the importance of funding education for children in crises. The party reaffirmed its commitment to restoring education funding, which was motivating for the champions and reinforced the value of youth advocacy. The experience strengthened their confidence, passion, and determination to continue campaigning for global education.

Campaign Champions speaking to Monica Harding MP for Esher and Walton and the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development

An Open Letter to the Prime Minister

To cap off the year, we have been working with the Youth Advisory Board at Save the Children UK who have written an open letter to the Prime Minister, expressing concern over the impact of aid cuts on global education and advocating for every child’s right to learn.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2025 has been a year of resilience, passion, and action. Our young people have demonstrated the power of youth voices to influence change and highlight the fundamental right of education for all. Despite challenges, Send My Friend to School has shown that with determination, solidarity, and advocacy, we can push for a world where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. In 2026, SMF is committed to have more campaigns and advocacies with the campaign champions and young people across the UK for global Education.