You can write to your child at any time. Please do not include your address or telephone details on correspondence going abroad, as this may lead to you being contacted directly by persons requesting funds etc. All outgoing and incoming correspondence is monitored by our staff as a security precaution. Children love to hear about you, your family, your church and your community. They also treasure photographs of their sponsors.

If you require more letter writing forms, please call our office or download them as a .pdf from our website. Please write in legible English. All correspondence should be sent to WorldShare for us to forward overseas where it will be translated before being given to your child.

What about gifts for Christmas and Birthdays?

Many sponsors like to send gifts for special occasions. We welcome cash gifts for children at Christmas or on birthdays. We recommend that these gifts be no more than £20 per child for each celebration (smaller gifts are also welcome). Please note: ALL such gifts will be pooled and distributed amongst all the children in that particular scheme. This is to avoid inequalities amongst children who have no sponsors, or whose sponsors are unable to send them a gift. It is the only way in which schemes can operate effectively and fairly in their local circumstances.

We welcome letters, Christmas and birthday cards and unframed photographs. These are inexpensive for us to send and bring a great deal of pleasure to the recipients.

We are only able to accept other gifts which are low in value, light in weight and not bulky. Ideal presents are items such as postcards, photos, bookmarks, small Advent calendars etc.

Gifts must weigh less than 75g and fit into a C5 size envelope. Any gifts received which do not meet these requirements will be disposed of. If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Can I visit the child I sponsor?

WorldShare is not able to arrange trips for you, although if you travel to a location where your child lives (same city etc), we will ask our partners to arange a meeting for you. You may have to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check prior to travel however.

What happens if my child leaves school?

Most sponsored children complete their education and go on to paid employment or Further Education. We are working on devleoping tracking schemes with partner ministries so that we can measure the effectiveness of the sponsorship.

Sometimes children leave for other reasons. The family might leave the area, or the parents start earning enough not to need sponsorship. In these circumstances, we will write to you as soon as possible and offer you the opportunity to sponsor another child.

Will I be the only sponsor of my child?

It depends on the particular ministry partner. In cases where ministries have an acute need, we offer the facility to sponsor on your own, for £30 per month or, if you would prefer to give at £15 per month, we will find an additional sponsor for your child. In cases where a child has two sponsors, they will always write to both sponsors each time.

Can groups sponsor a child?

Yes. We have many Sunday schools, youth groups, ladies fellowships, primary schools etc. sponsoring children. If you need multiple copies of a child's photo and biography, please just ask. If you need a larger picture for a noticeboard, please let us know.

What happens to my child if I have to stop sponsoring?

We understand that people's circumstances change and that sometimes they have to discontinue sponsoring. In those cases the child is sponsored from the general fund until a new sponsor is found for them. They do not have to leave the sponsorship scheme.