Actress Gemma Chan has appealed to the UK government to protect funding for the world’s most vulnerable children, following announced cuts to the foreign aid budget. As a UNICEF ambassador, Chan delivered an open letter to 10 Downing Street on Monday, urging that 25% of the UK’s aid spending be specifically allocated to “life-saving and life-changing work for children.”
The call comes after the government’s decision to reduce foreign aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) from 2027, a measure intended to increase defence spending.
Celebrity and Public Support
The open letter was signed by a range of prominent figures, including Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman and pop star Robbie Williams. Fifteen development organisations also supported the initiative, alongside more than 40,000 members of the UK public.
Speaking to PA news agency, Chan expressed her concerns about the implications of the cuts. “We’re definitely living in a really challenging time and difficult decisions are having to be made,” she said. “But I feel that these decisions shouldn’t be borne by the most vulnerable children in the world.”
She emphasised the fundamental importance of access to healthcare for children globally. “Things like vaccinations, access to health care, they’re a human right. No matter where a child lives, they deserve access to that,” Chan stated, adding, “Today is really about just making sure that we’re speaking up at this really difficult time for people that don’t have anyone advocating for them.”
Chan recently visited Malawi with Unicef UK, where she observed how British funding has supported solutions for healthcare and climate change issues. Examples she highlighted included the use of solar panels to improve health in rural areas by maintaining vaccine refrigeration, and drones to deliver health supplies and speed up test results.
This work is supported by initiatives like the African Drone and Data Academy, which trains young individuals in using satellite technology to map flood damage and better predict weather patterns. This, in turn, helps improve agriculture, health, and emergency responses.
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Chan conveyed her admiration for the young people she met during her work with Unicef. “I’m really inspired by the young people that I meet in the course of doing my work with Unicef and trips like this trip to Malawi,” she said. “I think it’s really important not to lose hope, and it’s really important to support the people that are really doing tireless, not necessarily very glamorous work, but working every day to make sure that children everywhere are given a good chance that (they are) growing up healthy and to be able to pursue their hopes and their dreams.”
The open letter itself highlights concerns that “2024 was one of the worst years on record for children in conflict.” It argues that “cutting critical aid again, this time even more drastically, will put their lives at risk and undo decades of progress.” The letter concludes by stating that the reduction from the previous 0.7% GNI commitment “will make it impossible for this government to achieve its aspirations of tackling extreme poverty, addressing the climate crisis and building long-term global security.”
