Coram Institute for Children

The Coram Institute will be the only think tank dedicated to the future of children, working with partners and young people to learn from the past, examine current needs and create better chances for the next generation.

The Institute will inform and influence best policy and practice, and collaborate with relevant partners to deliver solutions to the challenges children and young people face today.

Our ambition

Coram’s vision for children is a society where every child has the best possible chance in life, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Building on our legacy as the first and longest continuing children charity, the new Coram Institute for Children will be instrumental in realising this vision by acting as a catalyst for change and collaboration, seeking evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing children in the 21st century in policy, law and practice.

We will help young people secure their place at the heart of public discourse and provide practical means to fulfil the goals and principles of the Coram Charter for Children so children have A Fair Share of resources, An Equal Chance irrespective of who they are or where they live and A Secure Future and the stability, relationships and support they need with access to justice to uphold children’s rights.

We are now embarking on an ambitious two-year development phase to work with others across academic, public, private and charity sectors to realise the vision for the Institute, expanding our existing programmes of work, growing capacity for policy and discourse, and creating a new home for the Institute and children’s social action on the Coram Campus.

The Institute will build on and amplify Coram’s existing programmes of work by:

Turning insight into impact
Putting young people’s voices in action
Finding new solutions to the problems children face

How will we make a difference?

The Coram Institute will ensure that the experiences of young people are recognised and acted upon. It will champion children’s welfare, uphold their rights and create a lasting impact.

By conducting world-class research, testing new ideas, and creating a space for evidence-informed dialogue, the Institute will provide tangible solutions to the challenges children face in the modern era. The key areas are:

The Centre for Impact

Research and development in children’s care
The Centre for Impact will be at the heart of the Institute and already conducts research and evaluation to generate evidence-based policy, guidance and best practice to improve the outcomes of children and young people. It is a Centre that can ’think and do’, driving change in how programmes are run and the way services are delivered both in the UK and internationally.

Find out about the Centre for Impact

The Innovation Incubator

Strategic solutions to specific problems
The Coram Innovation Incubator (CII) draws on expertise from different sectors to enable creative solutions to be applied to longstanding challenges across children’s services and related sectors. In collaboration with ten local authorities – along with Microsoft, EY and PA Consulting – the CII enables leaders to collaborate and develop new approaches through the pursuit and exploitation of new products, processes and practice.

Find out about the Innovation Incubator

Youth Insight

Putting youth voices in action
Youth Insight provides a pathway to young and emerging researchers, offering them the opportunity to develop their skills and undertake rigorous research projects that turn experience into insight, and insight into impact. The development of Youth Insight is being led by Anthony Lynch and Zoe Lambert, co-founders of In-Between Lines, and Milly Jonas.

Find out about Youth Insight

The Story Centre

Public perceptions and attitude
The Story Centre brings the narrative of care in Britain – past, present and future – to life through creative work with young people, using the Foundling Hospital and other archive material. The Coram Society organises regular events to look at Coram's history and future work.

Find out about the Coram Society

“I believe the Coram Institute for the Future of Children is uniquely able to bring together those who can make a difference in children’s lives today and set a new agenda for the children of tomorrow.”

Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green Kt, FRCP, FRCPE, FRCPCH, FMedSci, FRSA

First Children’s Commissioner for England, former President of the British medical Association

“I look forward to supporting the Coram Institute to help society and colleagues across Parliament gain a greater understanding of the needs and aspirations of all of our nation’s amazing children.”

Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE

DL pioneering children’s broadcaster and parliamentarian

“The constant supply of ideas, insights and thoughtful expertise provided by Coram, often derived from children and families themselves, is worth its weight in gold.”

Isabelle Trowler

Chief Social Worker for Children and Families

Our experts

We collaborate with professionals, government, schools, universities, families and all those who share our commitment to making life better for future generations. Our core team will create opportunities for leaders across the children’s social care sector to engage in a national conversation – alongside industry, social change-makers, and young people themselves. It will also formulate policy recommendations.

For more information about the Coram Institute, please contact institute@coram.org.uk.