Support. Engage. Empower.
What we do
Children and young people in social care and education systems have the same needs in the UK as in Africa. What too often goes missing is a strong, respectful connection between a young person and the people and services meant to help them. Connection is the key to any lasting change in a young person’s life, and it sits at the heart of everything we do.
Our Vision
“We want to develop meaningful connections between children and young people and the societal structures that they live within; re-connection built on mutuality of respect, active listening and inclusion.”
Guiding Principles
Our Objectives
Three clear goals drive every community project and training partnership.
Build Local Capacity & Skills
Build the capacity and skills of people in disadvantaged communities, ensuring sustainable, community-led change from within.
Support Peer Organisations
Support peer charities and grassroots organisations in advancing the mental, physical and moral capabilities of children and young people.
Promote UNCRC Rights
Promote the rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) across every school, home, and community we work with.
The Gap We See
Moving beyond symptom management.
Despite growing aid and investment in the third sector, there is a real and avoidable gap in support for children and young people in Africa. Much of the resource goes to managing the symptoms of social deprivation, while the next generation is not engaged with in ways that change the patterns underneath.
Hear Their Roar addresses root causes: rebuilding healthy communication, instilling emotional literacy, and empowering caregivers with relational tools that prevent harm before it begins.
UNCRC Article 19
Protection from violence, abuse and neglect
“Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.”
— UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Our Core Programmes
How we make a difference
Three interconnected programmes designed to support, engage, and empower.
Emotional well-being in disadvantaged communities
Relationships and communication between children and their communities have often broken down, and that shows up as abusive behaviour. We run sessions with all sections of the community to change how people view communication and relationships.
Where a community wants change, relationships grow, and in our experience that leads to less corporal punishment and less of the neglect that comes from giving in to circumstance.
Children and young people with social care needs
Children carry thoughts and feelings they cannot express, and these play out as challenging behaviour, often while living with adults who struggle to care for them. We connect first through play (UNCRC Article 31), then workshops on understanding emotions and communicating.
This works best alongside the community programme because it feeds on better relationships with the adults. Children who go through our projects feel better equipped to understand and cope with life’s challenges.
Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) and tools to support change
Corporal punishment, escalating arguments and a lack of human connection between adults and children can be damaging, yet are often treated as normal. NVR gives adults a way to take control of an escalating situation without harming the child.
It reduces escalation, strengthens relationships, builds communication and offers practical tools for managing challenging behaviour. As NVR becomes an embedded cultural norm, harm to children reduces and emotional well-being improves for everyone.
Our Reach
Where we work
Hear Their Roar is currently working with communities in Kenya, partnering with local schools, child protection centres, and community leadership teams. Our historical work has also supported educators, social workers, and children across Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Verbatim Feedback
Voices from our work
Direct words from the children, teenagers, teachers, social workers, and leaders participating in our programmes.
Before I came I felt sad but now I feel happy.”
You have listened and explained to us.
Thank you.”
Some of us were hungry when you arrived, now we are full.”
Your presence here is a motivation to us.”
It has made them improve their self-esteem, confidence, decision and choice making.
From their faces you can tell they have improved.”
You are a very viable offering for children with deep wounds.”
Leadership
Meet the team
Founder
Megan Tanner
Megan has had a long career as a foster carer, specialising in care for highly traumatised children and adolescents. She set up thinknvr.co.uk, which uses Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) parenting methods to help parents facing child-to-parent violence and aggression (Childhood Challenging Violent and Aggressive Behaviour) and parents who are reactive themselves.
As a communication consultant she has run workshops and presentations for organisations from small businesses to FTSE 100 companies, and in schools across the UK.
Contact Megan directly: megan@heartheirroar.org
For general and organisational enquiries, contact Sam: sam@heartheirroar.org
Published Book
Building Strong Relationships Between Social Workers and Neuro-Diverse Foster Carers
Megan’s published book explores how social workers and neurodiverse foster carers can build mutual trust, active listening, and collaboration for the best outcomes for children and teens in need.
Support This Work
Help a child feel and be safe.
Every donation made through our Stewardship page reaches Hear Their Roar in full, with Gift Aid added on eligible UK gifts. Thank you for standing with children.
You will be taken to our secure Stewardship partner page.
Hear Their Roar is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales with the Charity Commission. Charity registration number 1188513. Registered address: 11 Lewis Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 9AW. © 2026 Hear Their Roar.