CONTACT A FAMILY 

We would like to deliver fun, active and informative peer-support activities for families with disabled children in Lambeth, so that they grow in confidence and are supported by each other.

Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province

Towards 12 months of the Listening Ear Project

a) Disabled Children’s Partnership (under Contact a Family) – proposal LS approved a grant of £27,960 in 2023/24 to the Disabled Children’s Partnership towards the costs of a piece of research ....more

a) Disabled Children’s Partnership (under Contact a Family) – proposal LS approved a grant of £27,960 in 2023/24 to the Disabled Children’s Partnership towards the costs of a piece of research into the social care and support needs of disabled children from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. This was initially an allocation (TCT1890) approved by the Trustees at the March 2023 meeting. It was agreed that this allocation would be converted to a grant with LS’s approval, subject to satisfactory answers being received to questions raised by TCT and Anne Pinney. CG's email to LS on the 03 May 2023 acts as approval in response to an in person meeting discussing this grant on the 02 May 2023. 360 Giving Text: Towards the costs of a piece of co-produced research into the social care and support needs of disabled children from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.

£226,650 over three years (3 x £75,550) towards the Family Worker (24 hours a week) and a Manager at the Lewisham project (7.5 hours a week), rent at the Lewisham project space, office costs, ....more

£226,650 over three years (3 x £75,550) towards the Family Worker (24 hours a week) and a Manager at the Lewisham project (7.5 hours a week), rent at the Lewisham project space, office costs, travel, workshops, events with up to £34,000 available for the costs of an external evaluation of the charity’s frontline services in the capital.

This funding will be used to deliver sports sessions during the summer holidays for children and young people with disabilities from Yorkshire. The project aims to support participants to reduce ....more

This funding will be used to deliver sports sessions during the summer holidays for children and young people with disabilities from Yorkshire. The project aims to support participants to reduce their isolation make friends enhance their skills and independence whilst providing a support network for families and access to the groups support services.

Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift

Family Events - February and May

Cost-of-Living Uplift

We aim to deliver fun, active and informative peer support activities for families with disabled children, so that families grow in confidence and are supported by each other.

to create accessible online content that is translated into Somali, Arabic and Polish, to help families with a disabled child to understand the UK benefit system and what support they are entitled to.

Rare Conditions Groups: pass through grants and capacity building

Towards a further 12 months of the Listening Ear programme

Contact a Family in Wrexham will use £7908 to provide families with disabled children support and information through workshops to address wellbeing issues.

Towards unrestricted core costs of an organisation that supports families with disabled children, working to protect rights in school and local communities, amplifying parents’ voices to tackle ....more

Towards unrestricted core costs of an organisation that supports families with disabled children, working to protect rights in school and local communities, amplifying parents’ voices to tackle injustice.

This group will use the funding to run a pilot programme to build confidence for families with disabled children to get out more following the lockdown.

DCMS Community Match Challenge grant

The VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund is a yearly fund for voluntary and community sector organisations that is run in partnership between DHSC, PHE and NHS EI. Each year the fund has a different theme ....more

The VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund is a yearly fund for voluntary and community sector organisations that is run in partnership between DHSC, PHE and NHS EI. Each year the fund has a different theme which is determined based on system-wide priorities and co-production with the voluntary sector.The theme of the HW Fund 2021-22 is providing support to families and childrens services, particularly due to the increase of paediatric respiratory infections.Provide additional support for childrens respiratory services and acute services during Autumn, Winter 2021Raise awareness of respiratory infections such as RSV and information about early detection to families and communities to prevent late admissions, especially within communities that experience the greatest health inequalitiesGive support to those with children suffering from respiratory infections such as RSV, especially where they may not have other support structures available

Transforming Lives Together

Core Funding

Towards providing tablet computers to families with disabled children

DCMS Community Match Challenge grant

Towards unrestricted core costs for six months funding whilst a multiyear application is developed

DCMS Community Match Challenge grant

Towards a parent helpline - COVID19 response

COVID-19: LCR Wave 3 - Wellbeing Support for families

Contact a Family in Wrexham will use £9996 to support families with disabled children in coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown. It will help build confidence in parent carers in taking their children ....more

Contact a Family in Wrexham will use £9996 to support families with disabled children in coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown. It will help build confidence in parent carers in taking their children to safe outdoor activities that will benefit the whole family’s mental health and well-being. Bydd Contact a Family yn Wrecsam yn defnyddio £9996 i gefnogi teuluoedd â phlant anabl i ddod allan o gyfyngiadau symud Covid-19. Bydd yn helpu i fagu hyder ymhlith rhieni sy'n ofalwyr wrth fynd â'u plant i weithgareddau awyr agored diogel a fydd o fudd i iechyd meddwl a lles y teulu cyfan.

Towards core campaigning costs to drive social change and tackle disadvantage and inequality with and for families with disabled children

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."

Support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs

towards unrestricted core costs as a COVID-19 Fast Response grant

The grant funding provided a period of support for charities providing vital services to ensure they could meet increased demand as a result of COVID-19, while continuing their day-to-day activities ....more

The grant funding provided a period of support for charities providing vital services to ensure they could meet increased demand as a result of COVID-19, while continuing their day-to-day activities to help those in need, up to the end of October 2021. Each organisation was either:Providing key services specific to supporting the Covid-19 response, to reduce burden on the NHS or other public services; orProviding critical frontline services to vulnerable groups affected by Covid-19 and associated measures (ie. social-distancing) (must outline the characteristics that make those groups vulnerable).

COVID19 capacity grant

Towards support for families in response to COVID19

To fund 152 Parent Carer Forums to represent and support their local area's SEND parents, carers and families.

Towards the salary of the Campaign Manager for DCP

A grant to support Better Together; activities for disabled children and their siblings in the Midlands and Wales.

This funding will support core costs and business development. This is so the organisation can continue supporting families with disabled children. They will receive guidance and information, ....more

This funding will support core costs and business development. This is so the organisation can continue supporting families with disabled children. They will receive guidance and information, bringing them together to campaign, volunteer and shape local services to improve life for themselves and others.

Contact a Family will work in partnership with Swansea CVS, Powys Teaching Health Board, Ysgol Cedewain, STAND NW and Wrexham LEA, the project will provide networks for parents who have disabled ....more

Contact a Family will work in partnership with Swansea CVS, Powys Teaching Health Board, Ysgol Cedewain, STAND NW and Wrexham LEA, the project will provide networks for parents who have disabled children. Groups will be created and led by parents who have expressed an interest in getting to know other families in their local area. Training will be provided in facilitation, education, welfare rights, mindfulness and wellbeing. £282,288 over three years, will fund salaries, project running costs and office equipment.

We want to provide much-needed activities for families with disabled children that are inclusive, fun, reduce isolation and build community.

By Your Side

Core funding

Skills for Caring

The organisation will use the funding to run a pilot project helping parents of disabled children get the skills and confidence to return to work and find new employment.

Walking with us/Cerdded gyda ni; Cymorth ar gyfer teuluoedd a phlant

Towards the salary and on-costs of a Campaign Manager for DCP

This group will develop their advice, information and support project for families with disabled children (0-25), with a focus on Black and Minority Ethnic and East European communities. The project ....more

This group will develop their advice, information and support project for families with disabled children (0-25), with a focus on Black and Minority Ethnic and East European communities. The project will provide intensive support for carers going through crisis and those who themselves have disabilities. It will run sessions which will cover housing, stress management, counselling, and challenging behaviour. The project will also offer home visits to offer support to parents who are unable to attend.

The five-year Me, Myself, I and Us project works across Northern Ireland with Carers NI, the Escapists and the five health and social care Trusts. It is running personal development and support ....more

The five-year Me, Myself, I and Us project works across Northern Ireland with Carers NI, the Escapists and the five health and social care Trusts. It is running personal development and support activities for families caring for a child under 12 with a disability or life limiting condition to improve their confidence, well-being and reduce isolation. It also supports families with a child under 12 who help care for a sibling. Activities include one to one support, art based therapy, and family events.

Towards the unrestricted core costs of an organisation that works with families with disabled children in order to improve peer-support and campaign for improved future services.

Core funding

This project will provide family fun days for disabled children and young people. They will have more fun, have better family relationships, and have more confidence.

towards upgrading its online presence

The charity will continue to provide one-to-one benefits advice for parents with disabled children via telephone and email. It will also provide guidance in print and online to de-mystify the ....more

The charity will continue to provide one-to-one benefits advice for parents with disabled children via telephone and email. It will also provide guidance in print and online to de-mystify the benefits system for over 150,000 parents. Each caller will receive an initial one to one advice session with a specialist Benefits Adviser, lasting up to one hour. Parents will also have access to follow-up advice via phone and email, ensuring increased confidence and knowledge in navigating the benefits system.

A project to provide information and advice for families caring for a disabled child aged 0 to 25 on issues including benefits, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), sleep, behaviour and ....more

A project to provide information and advice for families caring for a disabled child aged 0 to 25 on issues including benefits, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), sleep, behaviour and managing stress or isolation. It will provide one to one support and workshops for parent carers, drop in information and signposting sessions and events, and create peer support networks across the North West. The scheme will benefit over 1,900 people.

A project to provide support and advice to families across the Midlands with children aged 0-19 with disabilities including long-term medical conditions, physical and/or learning disabilities, ....more

A project to provide support and advice to families across the Midlands with children aged 0-19 with disabilities including long-term medical conditions, physical and/or learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties, rare disorders, life-threatening conditions, sensory impairments, or mental health conditions. The scheme will offer families a range of workshops or drop-in support including coping and managing stress, challenging behaviour, finance, benefits and education.

Families with disabled children are at serious risk of poverty. It costs three times more to raise a disabled child, and caring responsibilities make it hard for parents to work. Benefits are vital ....more

Families with disabled children are at serious risk of poverty. It costs three times more to raise a disabled child, and caring responsibilities make it hard for parents to work. Benefits are vital to overcoming this disadvantage but about 50–60% of families do not claim Disability Living Allowance.The project, serving the North East of England, will provide information workshops that will help families better understand entitlements and better manage their money overall. In-depth one-to-one support will be available for those who need it. The aim is to increase family income and improve the well-being of families affected.

This is a new, England wide project that will provide parents and/or carers of disabled children with information to increase their awareness and understanding, and keep them up to date with Special ....more

This is a new, England wide project that will provide parents and/or carers of disabled children with information to increase their awareness and understanding, and keep them up to date with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms being introduced from September 2014 in the new Children & Families Bill. The SEND reforms are the largest reforms of their kind to affect families with disabled children and the disability sector in 30 years and will affect every family.

This project aims to provide information and support to families caring for a disabled child aged 0-25, no matter what their disability is across the North East. They will do this by providing ....more

This project aims to provide information and support to families caring for a disabled child aged 0-25, no matter what their disability is across the North East. They will do this by providing parents with information and advice on a variety of topics such as benefits, Special Education Needs (SEN), sleep, behaviour and managing stress.

Core funding

Not Available

This is a continuation and expansion of an existing project by Contact a Family (CAF) which will support families from BAME communities in Ealing Borough to tackle the issues they face in parenting a ....more

This is a continuation and expansion of an existing project by Contact a Family (CAF) which will support families from BAME communities in Ealing Borough to tackle the issues they face in parenting a disabled child or children. This involves supporting them to access services and entitlements, making them aware of their rights and the options available to them, helping them overcome the barriers they face, making them feel stronger and more confident as they manage their lives caring for a disabled child._x000B__x000B_

This is a continuation project by Contact a Family (CAF) that aims to offer advice, information and direct support to families with disabled children 0-19 years. The aim of the project is to continue ....more

This is a continuation project by Contact a Family (CAF) that aims to offer advice, information and direct support to families with disabled children 0-19 years. The aim of the project is to continue supporting families with a child with any disability, including those with long-term/terminal illness, rare disorders and special needs in the South West, namely the Cornwall and Bristol area, South Gloucestershire, North and North East Somerset, and Bath.

This is a new expansion to an existing project that will provide in-depth specialist financial advice services through the existing helpline and online service, it will provide expert, up to date ....more

This is a new expansion to an existing project that will provide in-depth specialist financial advice services through the existing helpline and online service, it will provide expert, up to date advice and information to help families with a disabled child reduce the financial and social isolation that they face across England. It costs three times as much to bring up a child with a disability and families living with a disabled child are at greater risk of living in poverty.

This project aims to reduce the isolation and stress experienced by families with disabled children across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. It will improve access to practical support and ....more

This project aims to reduce the isolation and stress experienced by families with disabled children across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. It will improve access to practical support and information to maximise families' income, provide help on coping as a family and increase community involvement. Parent family workers and volunteers will lead group sessions to share useful information. For parents in more rural areas, the project will hold surgeries and one-to-one support.

This project will develop a programme of support for families with disabled children to help improve their quality of life. Families face a range of practical and emotional challenges caring for a ....more

This project will develop a programme of support for families with disabled children to help improve their quality of life. Families face a range of practical and emotional challenges caring for a disabled child, leading to isolation and an inability to access support. The project will produce regional newsletters, support groups, access to professional advice and information events. New media will help provide up-to-date information to parents on local support groups and signposting to local services.

This project supports families with disabled children to increase parent's skills, knowledge and confidence in parenting a disabled child by providing face-to-face advice/information/support and ....more

This project supports families with disabled children to increase parent's skills, knowledge and confidence in parenting a disabled child by providing face-to-face advice/information/support and through a programme of workshops and activities. A family worker will support families, help them apply for benefits, specialist equipment, home adaptations, respite and other financial assistance. Workshops will increase knowledge and equip parents with skills to be more effective in parenting their disabled child.

The project will strengthen and revitalise the community of families caring for disabled children across Wales by increasing access to information and offering advice and support. In particular the ....more

The project will strengthen and revitalise the community of families caring for disabled children across Wales by increasing access to information and offering advice and support. In particular the project will reduce financial exclusion experienced by many families by increasing their awareness, skills and capacity to maximise their income and tackle debt and budgeting. In addition it will enable parents of disabled children to feel less isolated by linking them to support networks, workshops and events.

UK-wide charity Contact A Family is using its funding to continue helping parents of disabled children in the North East and Cumbria. Families benefitting will have children aged up to 19 who have a ....more

UK-wide charity Contact A Family is using its funding to continue helping parents of disabled children in the North East and Cumbria. Families benefitting will have children aged up to 19 who have a disability, complex health need, rare disorder or life-limiting condition. There are currently 2,700 parents on the database for the North East and Cumbria and the organisation hopes to expand this to 4,000.

Towards core costs to support families with disabled children to contribute to policy and speak with a collective voice.

This project helps families with disabled children across England to access Sure Start Children's Centre (CC) services relating to their needs and to help those families to be involved in improving ....more

This project helps families with disabled children across England to access Sure Start Children's Centre (CC) services relating to their needs and to help those families to be involved in improving services. Contact a Family will work closely with CCs by working with staff and professionals to improve their knowledge and understanding of the target beneficiaries' needs and to provide relevant activities and information for parents/carers of disabled children.

This project, based in the London Borough of Sutton, will engage and empower parents with disabled children by providing information, advice and support. A family worker will provide in depth ....more

This project, based in the London Borough of Sutton, will engage and empower parents with disabled children by providing information, advice and support. A family worker will provide in depth face-to-face, individually tailored, support to parents aiming to tackle poverty and isolation and to reduce social and financial exclusion. Typical support will include correspondence and negotiation for services, applying for grants and welfare/disability benefits as well as work on budgeting.

This project will provide information, advice and support for parents of disabled children living in Lewisham. It will employ a new family worker who will provide face to face support to families on ....more

This project will provide information, advice and support for parents of disabled children living in Lewisham. It will employ a new family worker who will provide face to face support to families on issues such as how to access services and how to link with other parents in similar situations. A range of workshops and support groups will be set up to encourage parents with disabled children to get together, share experiences, support each other and have a say in the shaping of local services.