For many children, going back to school is exciting. It’s a chance to reconnect with friends after six weeks apart; to meet a new teacher and aspire to new ambitions.

But for some children, it can be one of the hardest days of the year.

Right now, there are more than 100,000 children in the UK care system. Each and every one of them deserves to return to school this year knowing that they have a family and community behind them who see their worth, value and dignity.

It's easier to go back to school when you’ve something stable to come home to. Give £10 today and find stable and supportive families for children in care so that no child feels alone on their hardest day.

"There are many occasions where life was hard for me living in the care system. One of these moments was going back to school in September.

From not having the right uniform or PE kit to seeing all the other children with shiny new shoes and pencil cases and having to start over again and make new friends, experiencing another move during the summer holidays meant I felt isolated and different.

The most dreaded moment though was my teacher asking the class, “Where did you go this this summer?”

I hadn’t been anywhere and had nothing to write down on the blank piece of paper in front of me. I didn’t want to share that while my peers had been on holidays or trips to the zoo, I had been packing up my bags again, ready to meet another new foster carer. That first day back to school was the hardest day."

This story is shared by a Home for Good employee who was in foster care until they were 6.

We’re proud to be partnered (and friends!) with Madlug. Along with Madlug, we believe that no child should have to carry their belongings in a black bin bag. With every bag you buy from Madlug, a pack-away travel bag goes to a child in care.

Images used by permission of Madlug - Photographer Tara Torrens