Smartphone Free Childhood

The result of the poll was pretty unanimous. About half of you voted and 70% of you that did voted for Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC). To respect that poll, this month’s donation will go to SFC.

However, speaking to a friend of mine who works for the Government in online safety, he recommended that I look at the Molly Rose Foundation. They work more in child protection than smartphone addiction - specifically around content promoting suicide - and are very influential in that field. I like the idea of working with charities that have first-hand verification from people I know and trust, and I also think it’s a very important cause.

So what we’re going to do is extend the focus on protecting children’s innocence online for another month and have that as May’s donation. Sorry to ruin the surprise for next month!

But back to SFC. A lot of you will know what they do from the email a couple days ago but I’ll give you a little more detail:

What they do:

Smartphone Free Childhood is a national grassroots movement that uses collective action to break the social trap of early smartphone ownership. By organising Parent Pacts at the school level, they empower parents to agree to delay giving their children smartphones until at least age 14. This shifts the burden away from individual parents and creates a new cultural norm where children can enjoy a screen-free childhood without the fear of being socially excluded.

Efficiency and Impact:

SFC operates with remarkable financial efficiency. They currently function as a charitable fund under Prism the Gift Fund, meaning they benefit from robust professional oversight while ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to the mission rather than traditional charity overhead.

• The Multiplier Effect: Their impact is driven by a network of over 200 volunteer regional leaders and 100,000+ WhatsApp community members. A small amount of central funding effectively unlocks thousands of hours of local volunteer advocacy.

• Proven Success: In just two years, they have successfully influenced over 180,000 parents across 50% of UK schools to sign the pact. Their advocacy was a key factor in the 2024/25 government guidance that moved the UK toward smartphone-free school days.

By supporting Smartphone Free Childhood, we aren't just funding a charity; we are investing in a generational shift that aims to reclaim 10 million hours of real-world play and connection for the next generation. You can explore their research or see their global map of school communities here.