“A flourishing, questioning mind that is taught not what to think but how to think requires an enabling environment that encompasses the physical, social and personal.”
Our Story
Chitra Chandran - CEO
My father recognised that young people are the future. Investing in their development will have long-term benefits, not just for them, but in the wider community too.
CF’s mission is to empower young people, to provide opportunities in a way that fosters positive change and provides a brighter future for the youth. By enabling young people to reach their full potential and become active contributors to society, we can help to create a better world for everyone.
It is a privilege to continue my father’s legacy, one which he established by touching the lives of thousands of young people. In the coming years, CF will work to change the lives of many more. I am grateful to be able to continue this work with the support of my family, friends and an incredible team.
History
Almost thirty years ago, Captain Chandran MBE OBE founded the Chandran Foundation upon his retirement, driven by a powerful vision born from personal experience. Having immigrated to the UK in 1965, he became a champion for minority communities long neglected by mainstream organisations. As CEO of Presentation Housing Association, he grew it into the largest BAME-led housing association in the country – a role that gave him unique insight into the educational barriers facing so many young people.
Today, his daughter Chitra, a former corporate lawyer, continues his legacy by addressing a crisis that affects 4.3 million children across the UK – child poverty. In London, where we have the highest child poverty rates in the country, these children are 18 months behind their peers, seven times more likely to face criminal exploitation, and 5 times more likely to suffer from daily anxiety or depression.
There is so much more we can do. We have a waiting list of schools ready to work with us. By supporting our fundraising you can help us keep our services free to the children who need them most.