Building Happier Futures

In 2022, we created the Building Happier Futures (BHF) programme which aims to create opportunities for, and harness the talents of, care-experienced people. We were struck by the inequalities that people who’ve experienced care can face; such as being more likely to be made homeless than to go to University (Becomecharity.org.uk).

Over £2.2m has been raised since 2022 for charities supporting care-experience through selling products in our shops, online and through other customer fundraising initiatives. In 2024 we launched the Building Happier Futures Fund, part of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, which awards grants to UK projects which provide education, social mobility, connection, experience and fun for care-experienced people. Although we continue to be on a journey to achieve the aims of BHF, in 2024, we brought the programme to the forefront of core brand activity to drive awareness and raise donations for care-experience charities. 2024 saw the second collection of the Made By Care brand, a thoughtfully crafted lifestyle range designed by care-experienced creators, to raise vital funds and give opportunities to aspiring designers. We launched two charity singles through our John Lewis seasonal ad campaigns, to raise donations and bring the cause to our key trading moment of the year as well as continued our customer giving mechanics such as the Christmas Yule Log (sold in Waitrose). We also expanded our employability programme, supporting people in joining our business and gaining valuable work experience for their future careers.