Our Story
For The Love of a Child exists to bring hope, healing, and a future to children and families who have experienced trauma, loss, and hardship. Through creative therapies, education, and practical support, we help children build resilience, process their experiences, and discover their potential — whether in schools, communities, or refugee camps around the world.
Our Story - The Journey to Hope
Our charity was born out of love, loss, and a determination to bring light into the darkest places. In 2010, our founder and CEO, Donna, experienced the devastating loss of her 5-year-old son, Samuel, who died suddenly from heart failure while playing at a fruit farm.
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In the midst of grief, Donna held on to the promise of John 12:24 — “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” She believed that Samuel’s life, though short, would bear fruit across the world, bringing hope and transformation to countless children.
Determined that his life would leave a lasting legacy, she founded For The Love of a Child — a name that reflects the love of a mother, the value of every child, and the belief that even the smallest life can spark great change.
From the charity’s first project, Sam’s House — a safe, creative space for Syrian refugee children in the Middle East — Donna’s vision has grown into an international movement. Today, she develops and delivers innovative dramatherapy and creative arts programmes that support the emotional well-being of children facing war, displacement, bereavement, and poverty.
In 2019 Donna was awarded the daily Mirror Unsung hero award for her work with the Syrian refugees. FLOC’s work has gained government recognition and Sams House was mentioned in Parliament for improving the lives of children after conflict.
For The Love of a Child (FLOC) – Our Journey
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For The Love of a Child was founded in 2010. Its very first project was Sam’s House, named in memory of little Samuel Jennings. In partnership with Mountain Unity, an NGO in Kabul, Afghanistan, the first Sam’s House was established as a safe play centre for children living with trauma and disabilities.
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In 2017, in response to the Syrian conflict, a second Sam’s House was opened in Lebanon in partnership with MERATH. This child-friendly space supported children aged 3–5 years who had been deeply traumatised by war and displacement. Over time, the Sam’s House programme developed into a structured psycho-social programme delivered in safe environments to help children overcome trauma through play and creative therapies.
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In 2012, our founder Donna wrote a children’s book which became the basis for a new emotional health and well-being programme – The Listening Stone Programme (LSP). Initially delivered in over six tribal villages in India, the programme has since reached many primary schools in Scotland and the special needs school Kingspark in Dundee.
The LSP has also been delivered to Afghan refugee children in Derby after they were granted asylum following the Taliban’s return to power. Alongside this, we ran a dedicated group for Afghan men to help them process trauma, adapt to their new environment, and strengthen community resilience.
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In 2022–2023, the LSP was delivered to Foster, Care, and Looked After Children (LAC) through social services partnerships. Most recently, the LSP has run successfully as part of establishing a new Sam’s House in Iraq, in partnership with Whole Heart International.
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In 2019, Donna was honoured with the Daily Mirror Unsung Hero Award for her work with Syrian refugees, and FLOC’s work was recognised by the UK Government, with Sam’s House being mentioned in Parliament as an example of improving the lives of children after conflict.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
With over a decade of experience, For The Love of a Child has become a trusted leader in psycho-social programmes for young children impacted by trauma, loss, and bereavement. To date, we have reached over 1,000 children globally through our programmes, improving the lives of many families and communities. Our work continues to expand:​
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Iraq – Delivered the LSP to over 100 children in IDP camps.
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Scotland – Delivered the LSP to Ukrainian children and their parents fleeing war, and facilitated women’s Ukrainian support groups.
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Afghanistan (Derby) – Delivered the LSP to children from Afghanistan and facilitated a dedicated group for Afghan men.
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LSP 2 – The Next Adventure – A follow-up programme designed to continue the therapeutic journey beyond the original Listening Stone Programme.
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The Desert Rose – A dramatherapy programme for young girls in Iraq and Afghanistan, focusing on resilience, hope, and self-worth.
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The Almond Project (Pakistan, upcoming) – A full-year psychosocial programme for children and families trapped in bonded labour, combining creative therapies, education, and community empowerment .
From Kabul to Lebanon, India to Iraq, and Scotland to Pakistan, our mission remains the same: to bring healing, hope, and a future to children whose lives have been devastated by conflict, loss, and hardship.
Meet the Team - Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees brings together a wealth of expertise in charity governance, education, therapy, and community development. Each trustee shares a deep commitment to safeguarding, protecting, and empowering children. Together, they guide our strategy, ensure our integrity, and help us stay true to our vision and values.
Chairman
Linda Donachie
I have been a nurse since 1988 and I am still nursing. I started off as an intensive care nurse then worked as a clinical nurse manager. I then continued my education and became an Advanced nurse Practitioner.
I also worked with Macmillan as a Cancer Palliative and End of life Facilitator. This involved educating and teaching in both hospitals and universities. I taught communication skills, delivering sad, bad and difficult information and how to care for a dying person and their families.
My passion is caring for people and I count it a privilege to be a part of peoples journey’s showing the love of Christ. I have 2 grown up children.
Secretary/Child Welfare officer
Gillian Simpson
Gillian has experience in supporting Older People, Adults with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health needs prior to becoming a qualified Social Worker in 1998 and works in Children's Services. She has experience in Children's Services Social Work in both specialist Disability Social Work and also mainstream Social Work covering, assessment, child protection, adoption and court work, and emergency response. She has managed Social Work Teams since 2009 before going into more Strategic Leadership in 2018.
Gill has a MSc in Child Protection, Management and Professional Studies alongside research in Outcomes for Children experiencing poverty. Gill has led women's faith groups in the community for 25 years and is devoted to building resilience in parents and children. Gill trains professionals multidisciplinary in Child Protection. Gill is experienced and trained in the effects of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and Trauma, and is committed to making a difference to Children's lives in the UK and across the world.
Treasurer
Johnathan Marks
Johnathan is a retired mechanical engineer, who ran his own business for 17 years. He has and still is involved in numerous start up enterprises across education, engineering and other sectors.
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He's been married to his wonderful wife Karen for 46 years, with 3 daughters and 10 grandchildren all living near by.
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He has a heart for young people and is inspired by Donna's vision for FLOC and positive impact on the children's wellbeing. He brings his years of business experience and wisdom to the board as well as his joyful sprit.
Trustee
Tanya Jaison
Tanya believes every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, supported, and free to dream big. She brings this passion into her work with For the Love of a Child, helping the charity strengthen its operations, expand its reach, and create lasting change for children and families.
Originally from India, Tanya has lived and worked in both the UK and India. Her career at BlackRock and Goldman Sachs gave her the skills to navigate complex challenges, lead large-scale projects, and bring people together to achieve ambitious goals. She now applies this expertise to the charity sector, combining strategic thinking with empathy and a hands-on approach.
Alongside her professional career, Tanya has advised small businesses, early-stage social enterprises, and grant-making bodies, and has led volunteer initiatives focused on community development. She is proud to contribute her experience and heart to support For the Love of a Child’s mission.
