Hope and Homes for Children

Hope and Homes for Children was established by Mark Cook, a retired colonel,{{cite news |title=Column One |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=1997-04-22 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0zEMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n14DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6961,1173059&dq=hope-and-homes-for-children&hl=en |accessdate=2010-10-06 }} and his wife Caroline.{{cite journal |title=The Rotarian: The clubs in action |date=December 1998 |journal=The Rotarian |publisher=Rotary International |issn=0035-838X |volume=173 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9DEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Hope+and+Homes+for+Children%22&pg=PT39 |accessdate=2010-10-06 }} The first project was an orphanage in Croatia, in a town called Lipik. Cook was posted there as part of the United Nations Protection Force.{{cite web|title=The Lipik Orphanage and Colonel Mark Cook|url=http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/lipik.html|accessdate=24 January 2016}} Initially, he and other soldiers repaired war-damaged orphanages before realising that what children really required was a family. Hope and Homes for children then began to pioneer the deinstitutionalisation of orphanages

and children's homes. By March 2024, the charity had closed 139 institutions in more than 20 countries, prevented over 288,000 children entering or re-entering institutions and had helped to change childcare systems.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hopeandhomes.org/content/uploads/2024/09/Hope-Magazine-Autumn-2024.pdf|title=Hope Magazine 45 (Autumn 2024)|last=|first=|date=2014-07-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924084805/https://www.hopeandhomes.org/content/uploads/2024/09/Hope-Magazine-Autumn-2024.pdf|archive-date=2024-09-24|access-date=2024-09-24}}{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1476862/Deserving-causes-need-your-help.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=WF | last=Deedes | title=Deserving causes need your help | date=2004-11-18}}

The charity's stated mission is "to be the catalyst for the global elimination of institutional care of children". They do this by keeping families together and avoiding separation. They also aim to reunite children with families by closing institutions;{{cite web |url=http://www.citynews.ro/maramures/din-oras-10/alesii-judeteni-asteptati-la-o-sedinta-de-indata-update-130629/ |title=Alesii judeteni asteptati la o sedinta de indata (UPDATE) - Maramures - citynews.ro |website=www.citynews.ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831193832/http://www.citynews.ro/maramures/din-oras-10/alesii-judeteni-asteptati-la-o-sedinta-de-indata-update-130629/ |archive-date=2011-08-31}} {{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1476864/No-longer-ignored.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=No longer ignored | date=2004-11-18}} where this is not possible they set up alternative family care arrangements such as adoption, fostering and small family homes. The model of deinstitutionaliation that they have developed has been recognised as best practice by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/romania/8128644/My-glimpse-of-hell-and-the-pitiful-children-who-have-been-betrayed.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Angela | last=Levin | title=My glimpse of hell and the pitiful children who have been betrayed | date=2010-11-15}}{{failed verification|date=August 2018}}

Hope and Homes for Children work in six countries in Eastern Europe and two in Africa.

Bosnia is the first country that Hope and Homes worked in.{{Cite web|url=https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/news|title=News|website=Salisbury Cathedral|language=en|access-date=2018-12-17}} Having initially renovated orphanages there it learnt that what children really need is a family and instead developed a model to close them with, starting with Dom Most Institution. HHC continues to support the reform of the child care system there.

A pilot institution for babies was closed at Teteven in 2010 in partnership with TBACT;{{Cite web |url=http://www.eq-bg.com/Pilot%20Project,%20Teteven,%20Bulgaria/50/750/ |title=Welcome to Equilibrium :: |access-date=2011-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402171803/http://www.eq-bg.com/Pilot%20Project,%20Teteven,%20Bulgaria/50/750/ |archive-date=2012-04-02 |url-status=dead }} it stimulated the government who then asked HHC to close eight more in the Sofia, Pernik, Montana, Ruse, Gabrovo, Targoviste, Plovdiv and Pazardzhik regions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/121723/Bulgaria+to+Start+Moving+Children+from+Orphanages|title=Bulgaria to Start Moving Children from Orphanages - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency|website=www.novinite.com|access-date=2018-12-17}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hopeandhomes.org/media/media-releases/bulgaria-to-close-harmful-baby-institutions |title=Bulgaria to close harmful baby institutions |accessdate=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523110551/http://www.hopeandhomes.org/media/media-releases/bulgaria-to-close-harmful-baby-institutions |archivedate=2013-05-23 }}

When HHC started working in Romania there were 100,000 children living in Romanian orphanages, and by 2010 there were less than 7,500.{{cite web |url=http://www.arkonline.org/child-protection/romania |title=ARK Online |accessdate=2011-08-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929234755/http://www.arkonline.org/child-protection/romania |archivedate=2011-09-29 }} It is the largest programme for Hope and Homes for Children, and they have led the closure of institutions and established replacement services in several counties.{{cite web |url=http://www.libertyandhumanity.com/human-writes-articles/a-fresh-start-for-europe-s-lost-children |title=A fresh start for europe's lost children / Human writes articles / Liberty and humanity home |accessdate=2011-09-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402173237/http://www.libertyandhumanity.com/human-writes-articles/a-fresh-start-for-europe-s-lost-children |archivedate=2012-04-02 }} Working with ARK and the Romanian Government they aim to end the institutionalisation of children by 2020.

HHC's work to close the Cupcui institution in Moldova earned a Human Rights Award from the United Nations Development Programme and other UN agencies, showcasing initiatives promoting human rights in Moldova.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/101552/articles/13089 |title=Our work in moldova wins un award - hope and homes for children - ammado |access-date=2011-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327135620/http://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/101552/articles/13089 |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead }}{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} In 2012 they completed the closure of Sarata Noua, the first institution for children with learning disabilities in Moldova. They went on to focus on two of the four baby institutions in Moldova, in order to cut off the supply to school-age institutions, ensuring children grow up in family based care.{{cite web |url=http://www.hopeandhomes.org/news/news-2012/groundbreaking-closure-signals-families-for-children-in-moldova |title=Groundbreaking closure signals families for children in Moldova |accessdate=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801094104/http://www.hopeandhomes.org/news/news-2012/groundbreaking-closure-signals-families-for-children-in-moldova |archivedate=2012-08-01 }}

HHC has been working in Ukraine since 1999. They have demonstrated models that the government has later adopted, such as for small family homes and mother and baby units.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} They closed the Makariv institution{{Cite web|url=https://truevisiontv.com/films/details/133/ukraines-forgotten-children|title=Film {{!}} True Vision|website=truevisiontv.com|access-date=2018-12-17}} and set up replacement services to support children and families.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/1999/199903.shtml|title=Hope and Homes helps orphans in Ukraine (05/09/99)|website=www.ukrweekly.com|access-date=2019-06-05}}

Having developed a number of community hubs to support vulnerable Rwandan families to stay together, HHC closed Mpore PEFA Orphanage in Kigali, the first orphanage to be closed following best practice in Africa; this was done with the support of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion.{{Cite web|url=https://migeprof.gov.rw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=238&Itemid=131|title=Gender Monitoring Office|last=|first=|date=|website=migeprof.gov.rw|access-date=2020-03-11}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hopeandhomes.org/news/news-2012/making-history-in-rwanda |title=Making history in Rwanda |accessdate=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801094403/http://www.hopeandhomes.org/news/news-2012/making-history-in-rwanda |archivedate=2012-08-01 }} In 2017 the charity reported that the number of orphanages in Rwanda had fallen to 14, from 400 ten years before.{{cite news |last1=Muhanga |title=Closing African orphanages may be less heartless than it seems |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/08/24/closing-african-orphanages-may-be-less-heartless-than-it-seems |accessdate=23 August 2018 |newspaper=The Economist |date=24 August 2017}}

Work is underway to reform the systems for abandoned babies in Khartoum. Working with the religious community a Fatwa was issued to 'decriminalise' abandoned, illegitimate babies which allowed them to be 'adopted' within the Islamic Kafala principle.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Over 2,400 babies have been placed within families rather than in institutions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicef.org/sudan/resources_4329.html|title=UNICEF Sudan - Resources - Technical paper #1 - alternative family care|website=www.unicef.org|access-date=2018-12-17}}

Hope and Homes for Children is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in 2001,{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04193179|title=HOPE AND HOMES FOR CHILDREN|last=|first=|date=|website=Companies House|language=en|access-date=2020-03-22}} as well as a registered charity. The charity manages a subsidiary, Hope and Homes for Children – Romania.{{Cite web|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends90/0001089490_AC_20181231_E_C.PDF|title=Hope and Homes for Children: Annual Report and Financial Statements|last=|first=|date=31 December 2018|website=Charity Commission|access-date=22 March 2020}}

In the year to December 2018, total income of the organisation was £9.1 million, a decrease on the previous year owing to falls in corporate donations and in income from trusts and foundations. Income included £1m in grants, largely from the Department for International Development and the European Union, the latter to support work in Romania. Expenditure in that year was £12.3m, of which £3m was fundraising costs. The organisation drew on its reserves, which stood at £5.6m at the end of the year.

Mark Cook (colonel) founded the charity{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1477130/Soldiers-ad-hoc-TV-plea-launched-orphans-charity.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=WF | last=Deedes | title=Soldier's ad hoc TV plea launched orphans' charity | date=2004-11-21}} and was awarded several honours including an OBE and a Heart of Gold award from Esther Rantzen; Caroline Cook was also appointed an OBE.{{Citation|title=Lipik Orphanage - Djecji dom Lipik - Mark Cook on BBC|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zu0jQjmJyk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/2zu0jQjmJyk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-10-01}}{{cbignore}} Martin Bell OBE was with Mark Cook when he founded the organisation; he later became a patron.

In 2010, former Defence Minister The Rt. Hon. Michael Mates with William Godfree performed Flanders and Swann songs in aid of the charity.{{cite news|publisher=Evening Standard|date=8 November 2010|title=Former Defence Minister performs Flanders & Swann for charity|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/former-defence-minister-performs-flanders-swann-for-charity-6533755.html|accessdate=24 January 2016}}

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