Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) is an international children's charity based in the United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 2002 by a group of businessmen in the alternative investment industry to improve the life chances of children, by creating high returns on philanthropic investment.

More than 300,000 children have benefited from ARK's programmes over the past 10 years. ARK has raised over £170m, making us one of the UK's fastest-growing fundraising charities. We are grateful for the loyal support and strong involvement of our trustees, patrons and donors.

 

Programs

Education

ARK's education programmes aim to harness the academic potential and life opportunities of as many children as possible. The organization focuses on ensuring children have access to an excellent education, no matter their background or poverty status. ARK is the first UK not-for-profit organisation to operate schools for public benefit in the UK and in the developing world.

 

Health

More children die before the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else on earth. One third of all child deaths occur within one month of life with maternal mortality figures significantly high - 225,000 women will lose their life die in childbirth every year. With access to effective medical care and information, almost all of these deaths could be prevented.

ARK's health programmes in this region focus on scaleable, effective interventions that keep newborns, children and mothers alive, concentrating on combating diarrhoea, access to treatment for HIV/Aids and significantly improving maternal health. Its work has already benefitted over 200,000 children and by 2015, ARK aims to vaccinate over 700,000 children against rotavirus, the deadliest cause of diarrhoea infection.

 

Child Protection

Together with its partner organization Hope and Homes for Children, ARK wants to see an end to harmful institutional care in Romania and provide a model for action in other parts of Eastern Europe. ARK's programmes in Romania and Bulgaria (completed in 2009) have already transformed the lives of more than 9,000 children, and we aim to benefit a further 8,000 by 2014.