Support for families when a child has a disability
Action for Children
We help disabled children and young people gain confidence and independence. We’re there for families when they need us. We’re on hand to help, when families need us. Our 496 local services allow us to work on the ground, in communities. We offer a huge range of support. This includes help for families with disabled children, and services for young carers.
Contact a Family
National charity to support families of disabled children, whatever their condition or disability. Provides information, advice and support.
- 020 7608 8700
- 0808 808 3555
- info@cafamily.org.uk
- https://contact.org.uk
Peeps HIE
Peeps is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting those touched by HIE (Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy). We offer emotional, practical and financial support, as well as free parent packs for all neonatal units and support for healthcare professionals.
We provide support to parents, families and friends affected by HIE, raising awareness of HIE.
You can download our free app through the App Store or Google Play by searching Peeps HIE.
- 0800 987 5422
- info@peeps-hie.org
- https://www.peeps-hie.org
Together for Short Lives
Together for Short Lives is the UK’s leading charity for children’s palliative care. Through our Family Support Hub and helpline we provide families of seriously ill children with emotional, financial and practical support and advice.
UK Government
Your local council can provide help if you have a disabled child, including:
- short break services
- holiday play schemes
- care at home
- some aids and adaptations
- financial help, e.g. money towards travel costs for hospital visits
Your council has a duty to provide these services under the Children Act 1989. Some are free of charge – the council might ask you to contribute towards others. If you think your child may qualify, contact the social services team at your local council.
The Little Ted Foundation
The Little Ted Foundation provides support to bereaved families following the loss of a child and those with seriously ill children.
We provide Memory Maker Grants to help families enjoy a special day out or trip together, Cost of Living Grants for those families with a seriously ill child in hospital for longer than 7 days and Getaways at our beautiful caravan in Snowdonia, North Wales for both bereaved families and those with seriously ill children to have a break from the stresses and strains of everyday life.
We are also working with The Foil Keepsake Co. to provide the families we support with the most beautiful foil prints free of charge, whether that be scan photos, family hand prints or your little one’s footprints. Please get in touch to find out more about these prints and how to order them.
For more information on any of the support we offer, please visit www.thelittletedfoundation.org or email info@thelittletedfoundation.org
Footprints Conductive Education Centre
Footprints is a Nottingham based charity which transforms the lives of children living with mobility and communication difficulties across the East Midlands. At their centre and through their support, babies and children develop the skills they need to thrive and achieve their potential.
Their work is inspired by the principles and practices of Conductive Education, a holistic education approach developed to help children with disabilities consciously learn the life skills that come more naturally to others. Their work encourages the development of physical, communication, social, sensory, self-help and thinking skills.
Footprints work closely with the child and their family in a safe, positive and supportive environment to encourage and motivate each child’s desire to achieve tasks. At the same time, they give families the knowledge, confidence and strength to cope with the disabilities their child lives with and understand how they can help.
- www.footprintscec.org
- enquiries@footprintscec.org
- 0115 958 6641
Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT)
We are Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT) a user-led national charity, which supports children and their families affected by hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition where excess fluid builds up in the brain. While it can occur at any age, it’s particularly crucial to detect it early in infants. Every year in the UK around 1 in every 770 babies will develop the condition and whilst there is no cure early detection can make a significant difference. As a charity we raise awareness of the condition, support front-line workers to learn more and so enhance patient care and provide support to families through signposting and peer support. We also campaign for better awareness of infant head circumference measurement through our Get-A-Head campaign. https://harrys-hat.org/get-a-head/
