Category: Fundraising

The final score is in for Contact’s annual DinoDay fundraiser. We are thrilled to share that 620 roar-some children and young people took part this year to raise a whopping £52,271 to support families with disabled children across the UK.

Throughout June, children, families, schools and Scout groups took on 19 exciting activities, whether that was walking or running 19 minutes, visiting 19 different parks, trying 19 different foods, riding 19 trains, or doing 19 acts of kindness.

Inspirational community

Beena Patel, Contact’s Head of Individual Giving, said: “Children and young people from across the UK have got into the DinoDay spirit and we couldn’t be more grateful for their incredible efforts. It really is an inspirational community led by youngsters who want to make a difference and help others. Thank you to each and every one of you, your support will make a difference to families up and down the country.”

Fundraisers include eight-year-old dinosaur fan Finn Allison, who decided to take on a walking challenge to raise money for Contact. But he didn’t stop there! He also asked his Year 3 class at Weddington Primary School to join him for the final 19 minutes of his walk. The whole class turned up in green, with dinosaurs in hand, and walked together. Raising over £700 between them!

DinoDay fundraiser Finn in a green t-shirt smiling. Another two images of Finn and his classmates walking in a sports field about to cross the finishing line

Finn’s mum, Amie Allison, said: “Seeing everyone come together to support such an important cause was incredibly moving, and we couldn’t be prouder of Finn and every single child who took part.”

Finn’s teacher, Miss Bisma Mohamed, said: “As his teachers, we have watched Finn put his heart into this fundraiser from the very beginning. He has spoken so passionately about taking part in the DinoDay Challenge and wanting to raise money for Contact because he knows how important your work is. Seeing him achieve his goal has been an extremely special moment for all of us.”

Finn was not alone in getting the backing and support from his school. A 12-year-old from Wigan raised a staggering amount for Contact’s Dino Day. Troy Ashcroft smashed his target of £150 to raise a whopping £1,249. Fellow pupils as well as teachers and staff at Landgate school supported his challenge and cheered him along the way. What a fantastic achievement, thank you Troy!

Want to get involved in DinoDay 2027?

If your child or family would like to get involved in DinoDay 2027, you can register your interest now.

If your child’s school would like to register their interest for DinoDay 2027, they can register using a separate form.

Today we’re celebrating DinoDay, our annual event to raise vital funds for Contact’s support services for families with disabled children.

Thousands of incredible families and children across the UK have also been taking on 19 exciting activities as part of the DinoDay Challenge, raising over £40,000 so far!

A huge, dinosaur-sized thank you to everyone taking part in the challenge or hosting a DinoDay event — including our own staff, who have been stomping and roaring around their local areas today (some even rocking dinosaur outfits!) to celebrate:

Contact staff dressed in green during their DinoDay walk

DinoDay started as a tribute to a little boy called Cameron Mathieson, whose family’s fight for justice fuelled one of our most successful campaigns to date. With Contact’s support, the Mathiesons won a landmark legal case at the Supreme Court which ensured no other child would lose their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if they spent over 12 weeks in hospital.

Today, on what would have been Cam’s 19th birthday, please take a moment to read his incredibly inspiring story and keep his family in your thoughts.

Celebrate by supporting the DinoDay fundraiser

You can help get our DinoDay fundraiser over the £45,000 mark by donating directly to Contact or to one of the families taking part in the DinoDay Challenge.

Not only will your donation be life-changing for the families we support, it’s also a brilliant way of celebrating the amazing efforts of all the children fundraising this June.

Like 5-year-old train enthusiast Sanchez, who set himself the challenge of travelling to 19 different London Underground stations while carrying out 19 acts of kindness along the way!

Every penny raised through DinoDay will help us continue to campaign for a fairer society and support families with disabled children. It will also fund vital services like By Your Side so we can continue providing practical support to families with seriously ill children in hospital, just as we did for Cameron’s family.

Thank you so much for your support!

Five year old Sanchez Chiwandire is taking on Contact’s DinoDay Challenge by combining two of his favourite things: The London Underground and making people smile!

A huge train enthusiast, Sanchez – with the help of his mum Nyasha  – has set himself the challenge of travelling to 19 different London Underground stations and carrying out 19 acts of kindness along the way. As he travels across the Transport for London network, he’ll be handing out compliments, sharing positive messages and brightening people’s days – all while raising vital funds for Contact.

A young child sits on a train seat, smiling and giving a thumbs up. The child is wearing a green "Contact" t-shirt with a dinosaur graphic and is holding a white object in their other hand.

Sanchez got off to a fantastic start by visiting 12 tube stations in the half term holiday.

Sanchez’ mum Nyasha says: “Trains are Sanchez special interest and he loves them.  It’s been wonderful to  combine his passion with Contact’s DinoDay Challenge and raise money that will help Contact support even more families.

“Sanchez started his DinoDay Challenge in the half term holiday and aims to finish it on DinoDay itself, 19 June. Every station stop is a chance to spread kindness and happiness and make someone smile. Sanchez is autistic and our family has received a lot of support from Contact in the past so it’s been incredibly special to see Sanchez giving back to the charity through his acts of kindness. 

“Whether he’s  giving out compliments, sharing positive messages, or simply making someone’s day a little bit brighter, every station stop is a chance to spread some much needed happiness. I’m so proud of his big heart, adventurous spirit, and determination to make a difference while doing something he absolutely loves.”

If you’d like to support Sanchez and his DinoDay challenge, you can donate via his fundraising page

What is Contact’s DinoDay Challenge?

DinoDay is Contact’s annual fundraising activity where no two challenges look the same. It’s an inclusive, family-friendly fundraiser open to children of all ages and abilities who can pick any 19 activities of their choice to take on throughout June, while friends and family cheer them on with donations.

Registrations for this year’s DinoDay have closed now but you can still visit our DinoDay Just Giving page and make a donation.

Other ways to support us

From fundraising to playing Contact’s weekly lottery, there are lots of ways you can support us and the work we do. Find out more about how you can make a life-changing difference to families with disabled children.

Hundreds of kids across the UK will be lacing up their trainers, trying foods they’ve never heard of, and even learning new dance moves this June — all to help raise vital funds for families disabled children.

The DinoDay Challenge, run by children’s disability charity Contact, is back for its fourth year — and registrations are now open to join this exciting event where no two challenges look the same!

This inclusive, family-friendly fundraiser invites children of all ages and abilities to pick any 19 activities of their choice to take on throughout June, while friends and family cheer them on with donations.

Every child who fundraises will receive a FREE DinoDay t-shirt and activity tracker — and families can also earn special prizes along the way. As well as an exclusive DinoDay medal and personalised certificate, there’s also an incredible DinoDay family trophy up for grabs this year!

A collage of children wearing matching green dinosaur-themed shirts, smiling and posing in various indoor and outdoor settings, with one child holding a dinosaur award in the centre.

Families who took part last year raised a record-breaking £50,442 to help Contact provide free advice, support and community to thousands of families with disabled children across the UK. 

Why families love the DinoDay Challenge 

The beauty of DinoDay is that all challenges are completely unique. Families can choose any activity they’d like to take on — as long as the number 19 is involved

Seven-year-old Ziggy, who had spent most of his life being tube-fed, took on the challenge of trying 19 new foods. His mum Jackie said the results amazed them all: “Every day Ziggy would say to us: ‘So what’s my new food today?!’ He did so well and talked about it at school for weeks. We are so proud of him.” 

Or take Evelyn, who was just 20 months old when she took on her first DinoDay Challeng by completing 19 laps around her local duck pond — and loved the experience so much that she’s been involved every year since:

Side-by-side photos of a young child: on the left, Evelyn in 2023 holding a “2” birthday card outdoors, and on the right, Evelyn in 2025 indoors, smiling and wearing a medal. Text labels show the years.

Meanwhile Imogen, who is autistic and has ADHD, dedicated herself to colouring in 19 dinosaur drawings. Not only did she raise an incredible £680 along the way, but her mum Laura said the experience boosted her confidence, improved her concentration, and helped bring Imogen out of her shell. 

And it’s not just children who have a blast: parents love how the DinoDay Challenge is a chance to have quality bonding time, get out on adventures, and make special memories together.  

How to get involved 

To join the DinoDay Challenge, simply register for your free t-shirt and activity tracker

Then, Contact will email you a link to set up your fundraiser and to join a special Facebook group for participating families — a lovely and friendly community where you can share updates, swap ideas, and cheer each other on. 

Special fundraising prizes include a: 

⭐ Personalised digital certificate for each child who raises £10 or more. 

🏅 DinoDay medal for each child who raises £40 or more. 

🏆 DinoDay trophy for each family who raises £150 or more! 

Want to find out more? Watch the video below to see what the DinoDay Challenge is all about, or take a look at the event FAQs for all the information you’ll need. 

Meet three more dedicated runners taking on this year’s London Marathon to raise vital funds for Contact.

Maya Englesberg, 28, a brain injury solicitor based in London, will tackle the 26.2-mile challenge alongside friends Katie King and Rachel McKenzie-Martin from Buckinghamshire on Sunday 26 April.

Maya’s motivation is closely linked to her professional experience. As a child brain injury solicitor, she has seen first-hand the challenges families face and the gaps in support available.

Maya says: “Contact is an incredible charity providing invaluable support for families of disabled children. My work has made me acutely aware of how limited support can be for disabled children and their families. Contact plays a vital role in ensuring families feel supported, understood and empowered.”

A woman with brown hair tied back smiles at the camera, standing in front of a weathered brick wall. She is wearing a white shirt, silver hoop earrings, and a chain necklace.

Maya works for Bolt Burdon Kemp (BBK), which has generously funded Contact’s By Your Side hospital programme for the past 10 years. Staff at the firm also volunteer their time and regularly take part in fundraising activities for the charity.

Meanwhile, friends Katie King and Rachel McKenzie-Martin, from Leighton Buzzard and Olney, are preparing to take on the marathon together. This year marks Rachel’s second London Marathon for Contact, while Katie will celebrate a remarkable milestone as she completes her 30th lifetime marathon.

Two people smiling outdoors on grass, wearing navy "Contact" charity shirts. One shirt says "RACH" and the other "KATIE." There are trees and fallen logs in the background on a cloudy day.

Speaking about their challenge, Katie and Rachel said: “We are delighted to be taking on the London Marathon together in support of Contact. It means so much to raise both funds and awareness for a charity that makes such a positive difference to families. Training together has been an incredible achievement, and we’re immensely proud of Maya, Katie and Rachel’s dedication, commitment and fundraising efforts. Their support will make a real difference to families with disabled children across the UK.

We wish them the very best of luck. Their runs will help us continue providing vital, life-changing support to families who need it most.

Visit Maya, Katie and Rachel’s official fundraising pages if you’d like to support them.

Go

Cambridgeshire mum Jeanette Dyer was inspired by her daughter to run this year’s London Marathon on Sunday 26 April to give back to Contact.

Jeanette first took up running in 2012. Her daughter Rose has a genetic condition called Noonan Syndrome and Jeanette signed up to support Contact after receiving invaluable help from our information, advice and support services.

Jeanette said: “My daughter Rose has overcome so many challenges in her life. Contact supported me with advice through their helpline, including how to apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan so she could receive one-to-one support in a mainstream school and fully access the curriculum. They also helped me navigate applications for a Children’s and Family’s Needs Assessment, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carer’s Allowance.

“Rose’s determination has always inspired me. She took part in dance and gymnastics as she was growing up and later went on to coach younger children – something she absolutely loved. She has since studied childcare at college, and I truly believe she has been able to reach her potential thanks to the support we accessed through Contact. We are incredibly grateful to them.”

A woman with short hair smiles at the camera, wearing a sleeveless black top that reads "JEANETTE contact For families with disabled children." She stands indoors with light blue walls and a plant nearby.

We’d like to thank Jeanette and wish her good luck for her epic fundraising run on the 26th!

To support Jeanette, visit her official London Marathon fundraising page.

A primary school teacher from Cranbrook in Devon is taking on this year’s London Marathon to raise vital funds for disability charity Contact, which supports families with disabled children across the UK.

39-year-old Justin Martin from Cranbrook chose to run for Contact on Sunday 26 April after benefitting from the charity’s specialist advice and support for families like his who live with Hemiplegia – a condition, caused by a brain injury, that results in weakness, stiffness and lack of control in one side of the body.

Contact run HemiHelp – the UK’s only condition-specific programme dedicated to supporting families whose children have Hemiplegia. The service offers a wide range of resources, tools and guidance designed to improve the wellbeing, knowledge, skills and confidence of parent carers, helping them provide the best possible care for their children.

Justin says: “My son has Hemiplegia and my family have previously used Contact’s website and HemiHelp information, support and advice. I am honoured to be running for a charity that supports families like mine. I understand more than most the challenges that come with raising a disabled child, and I would love to give something back to this amazing charity who help families when they need it most.

“I have also worked with countless disabled children in my 15 years of teaching, and it would be great if everyone who needs it could benefit from the support  Contact provides.”

Picture of London Marathon runner Justin

We wish Justin the very best of luck. His efforts will help us continue providing life-changing support to families who need it most.

You can support Justin’s marathon run by visiting his official fundraising page.

We’re delighted to introduce one of the eleven amazing people running the London Marathon for Contact later this month.

Full-time carer Lauren Egerton from Gosport will be tackling the 26.2-mile challenge on Sunday, 26 April, to help us us reach even more parent carers with our information, support and advice. Contact is a charity that Lauren has long admired, following us on Instagram and regularly sharing posts with friends and directing them to Contact’s website for trusted support, information and advice.

Lauren said: “In my opinion, Contact is the best charity for supporting families with disabled children – it’s a lifeline for families like mine. From helping with Disability Living Allowance, which many families find difficult to navigate, to simply being a friendly, supportive voice when parent carers need it most, their work is invaluable.

One of Contact's London Marathon runners wearing a running shirt with Contact's logo on it

‘With Contact, we’re never alone.’

“They truly go above and beyond for families. As a parent of a disabled child, it’s easy to feel isolated. Contact brings people together and reminds us that we are never alone on this journey and provide a sense of community. I’d love the opportunity to give something back. I’m incredibly grateful for the support they offer and proud to help them continue their vital work so that even more families can access the support they need and feel heard.”

Kaya Korablina from Contact said: “Running 26 miles is an incredible achievement, and we’re immensely proud of Lauren’s dedication, commitment and fundraising efforts. Her support will make a real difference to families with disabled children across the UK.

“We wish Lauren the very best of luck -her run will help us continue providing vital, life-changing support to families who need it most.”

You can support Lauren’s marathon run by visiting her official fundraising page.


Banner: Contact's winter appeal 2025, depicting a selection of stickers


We see you, we hear you – and you aren’t alone.

That’s the warm message we’re sharing with parent carers across the UK this winter. A message of recognition, solidarity, and support for families who all too often carry more than many realise.

That’s why we’ve created a set of four exclusive stickers to help parent carers feel part of our supportive community. It’s a reminder that Contact and others understand what you’re facing, even on the hardest days.

Pop a sticker on your water bottle, your diary, phone case or even somewhere in your local area where another parent carer might spot it and feel that moment of recognition.

Please support our work

If you can, we’re asking you to make a voluntary contribution of £10 this winter to support our work with families across the UK. We’ll send you our sticker pack as a warm thank you.

We know that many families raising disabled children or children with additional needs are under huge financial pressure. There is absolutely no expectation to give.

A donation today will help fund our life-changing advice and information, delivered by our team of compassionate parent advisers. People who truly listen, understand, and provide practical and emotional support when it’s needed the most.

Together, you’ve helped change the conversation

Thanks to families like yours, Contact has been able to make sure the realities of caring are heard and understood.

Whether it’s helping us shine a light on disabled children’s right to NHS-funded care, highlighting the need for reliable school transport, or exposing the barriers families face in unlocking their Child Trust Fund savings. Your experiences and your voices are driving change. They show just how powerful our community can be when we stand together.

And if you can contribute financially, your £10 will help Contact reach more families who need connection, advice and understanding this winter.

We’re delighted to share that two more parent carers, Amy and Sam, have won £1,000 each in the Contact Weekly Lottery!

As a single parent to four children, including two with disabilities, Amy said the cash prize will make “an absolutely huge difference” to her family.

“It’s difficult to put into words the hope this brings,” she added. “This money will go a long way in helping me provide for my children’s needs. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for this incredible and timely support.”

Meanwhile, mum and grandmother Sam said it was “absolutely marvellous” to win while knowing you’re also helping a good cause.

A couple smile alongside their son in a wheelchair, all smiling
Sam with her lovely family

Sam first called Contact’s helpline for advice when her disabled son was younger. “The service was excellent,” she said. “The Contact Lottery is an amazing cause. It does so many good things and gives so many disadvantaged families opportunities.”

Huge congratulations to Amy and Sam, who both won just weeks after parent carer Kelly hit the £1,000 jackpot in July.

We’re so pleased their £1 entries turned into a £1,000 win! And if you join us, you could be next…

For just £1 a week, playing our lottery is a bargain way to support Contact’s services for families with disabled children — while also having a chance to win cash every Friday.

When Jeanette’s daughter Rose was diagnosed with a genetic condition called Noonan syndrome, which affects growth and motor performance, the road ahead looked uncertain.

But thanks to the support she received from Contact over the years, Jeanette was never alone in her journey — and Rose was able to conquer many challenges in her life.

Jeanette and Rose hugging

She started taking dance classes, doing gymnastics, and was able to get 1:1 support from a teaching assistant to access the curriculum in mainstream school after we helped Jeanette apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Fast-forward 19 years, and Rose is thriving: she’s coached young children in gymnastics, studied childcare at college, and is now in her first job as an early years practitioner supported through Access to Work.

Jeanette said: “I’m sure that Rose has managed to achieve her potential in life through accessing all the support that Contact has recommended for her. We are so grateful to them.”

Our free services helped put the joy back into Jeanette’s family life — and now, she wants to help as many families as possible to achieve the same thing.

“If you can, please help more families like mine to access Contact’s incredibly valuable support by donating to their Unlock the Joy appeal,” she said.

“Contact helps parents like me to feel more confident and informed about my rights when it comes to supporting our wonderful disabled children. And as a charity, they rely on donations to provide their life-changing information and advice.”

Every day, parent carers of disabled children who feel overwhelmed or frustrated turn to us for advice and support. Maybe it’s a school excluding their child, a social care package being cut, or a benefit form that feels impossible to fill in when they’re already running on empty.

But what many don’t realise is that sometimes, we’re the first ones to really listen.

“It makes my day when I’ve really connected with a parent carer and given them advice they found useful, as well as the confidence to go off and use it,” said Gail, one of our helpline parent advisers.

Take Steve, for example. His son was being discharged from hospital and needed specialist equipment at home, but health services had refused their request. We talked him through their rights, who to speak to, what to say. And it worked: he got the equipment. His son came home.

Or Alison, who found out she’d been missing out on Universal Credit for years. Our team helped her claim everything she was entitled to, and to fight for the arrears she was rightfully owed. Alison got over £20,000 in backdated pay. Enough to cover some urgent bills — and even take her daughter on a really special holiday.

Then there was Zara, who was struggling to cope with her feelings since her daughter’s diagnosis. “I don’t even know where to start,” she told us. So together, we started. Step by step.

That’s where the difference begins. By working through issues together, we unlock beautiful things: possibility. Relief. Hope. Joy. Because joy doesn’t have to mean shiny new toys or expensive days out — sometimes, joy is simply knowing you’re not alone. That someone believes in you. When parents feel supported and understood, something inside them shifts.

Please help us unlock joy for more families

This month, we’re asking for your help so we can bring that feeling to even more parents like Steve, Alison and Zara. Please consider donating to our Unlock the Joy Appeal to help us give families a lifeline — and a future filled with joy they thought was out of reach.

The kindness of your donations, however much, can help make all the difference for families. You’re not just giving money: you’re giving reassurance. Guidance. And sometimes, the first glimmer of hope.

Together, we can unlock joy for even more families with disabled children in the UK.

Thank you so much, from all of us at Contact.

Contact offers advice and support for families via our helpline and online services that are funded by the Department for Education, our Family Finance and Listening Ear services and parent workshops.

*Parent names have been changed to protect their identity

We’re excited to share that this year’s DinoDay Challenge, Contact’s annual fundraising event, has been our most successful yet: participants raised a huge £50,442 in support of families with disabled children — more than twice as much as in 2024!

A massive thank you to the thousands of families and children across the UK who took on 19 activities of their choice throughout the month of June to raise vital funds for Contact’s work. All while sporting their snazzy DinoDay t-shirts, of course!

Like last year, many children who took part in this year’s challenge were disabled or neurodiverse themselves. In fact, our top fundraiser, 10-year-old Noah Hossain, singlehandedly raised a whopping £1,201 by completing 19 laps on his disability trike:

Side-by-side photos of young boy in a green DinoDay shirt riding a disability tricycle

Or take Tyler, who has ADHD, sensory processing disorder and is awaiting an autism diagnosis. Together with his brother Chrissy, the dynamic duo raised nearly £750 by doing 19 press-ups and squats every day.

“We are so proud of them for not giving up and for raising an amazing amount of money for such a fun and inclusive fundraiser – and we can’t wait to take part again next year.”

Danielle, Tyler and Chrissy’s mum

From cooking up meals from 19 countries and doing 19 acts of kindness to learning 19 new words in different languages, this year’s challenges were as unique as they come.

And it’s not just the children who had a blast, either! Parents in our DinoDay Facebook group said they loved spending quality time with their kids and trying their hand at things they might have never done so otherwise.

As a reward for their hard work, children who raised over £10 received a certificate recognising their achievement — and those who raised £30 or more even got a special medal!

The difference our ROAR-some participants will make

With growing demand for our advice and support services, the funds raised by this year’s participants will be truly life-changing for the families we support.

Funds will help support key services such as our expert helpline, workshops, family days out and Listening Ear line, as well as our vital campaign work.

Register now to join the fun in 2026

Though next year’s DinoDay Challenge is still some months away, it’s not too early to sign up!

Register now to join us in 2026 for your chance to have a blast taking on 19 sponsored activities of your choice in this epic fundraising challenge for children of all ages and abilities.

Every child who signs up will get a free DinoDay t-shirt and activity tracker to get them going, and you’ll be invited to join our special Facebook group where you can meet other families and cheer each other on!

Mum of autistic child expresses her gratitude to Contact after winning £1,000 through the weekly lottery, a cause she joined to give back for the invaluable support she received during a challenging time.

Kelly first discovered Contact after struggling to navigate the complex processes of securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) following her daughter’s autism diagnosis. She said:

I wouldn’t have had the success with my ECH Plan and DLA applications if it wasn’t for the invaluable help and information from Contact. The EHC Plan is as it should be, and my little lady is in an amazing specialist school!

Wanting to give back, Kelly decided to join Contact’s charity lottery as a way to support other parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Little did she know, she would end up winning the £1,000 prize!

She received the surprise phone call while returning from a family holiday. She told us:

I would urge anyone to sign up for the lottery as it helps support real parents like me. We have so many challenges and processes to learn, and many, many new acronyms!

It can be a lonely place being a SEND parent. Contact offers parents like us that much-needed help and advice.

Child of lottery winner smiling
Kelly’s daughter

We’re so pleased Kelly turned her entry into a win. And if you join us – you could be next!

Get 5 free entries into our upcoming draw

If you haven’t played our lottery yet, you’re in luck because we’re celebrating its 5th birthday in July by giving all new players 5 free entries!

It’s your chance to be the next player to win the jackpot while funding our vital services to help other families with disabled children.

Simply sign up by 7 August, and we’ll add your 5 free entries to your first draw once your initial direct debit payment has been processed.

We are delighted to announce that our Contact Scotland team have been awarded a grant of £97,774 over the next three years from the Health & Social Care Alliance (The Alliance) – the national third sector membership organisation for the health and social care sector, representing 3,500 members. 

Contact Scotland will use the money to support unpaid parent carers in Scotland who self-identify as having a disability and/or health condition, to better self-manage their health.

The work carried out by our team in Scotland thanks to this funding is one of 31 projects who received a total of £1.9 million from the Alliance.

The funding aims to help support people in the early stages of a long term condition diagnosis, disabled people or an unpaid carer to develop skills to manage their own health and wellbeing and reduce barriers to health and social care support and services.

Susan Walls, Contact’s manager in Scotland says: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this funding which will help Contact Scotland support unpaid carers to better self-manage their health while caregiving for their disabled children.

“It is an incredible donation that will transform the way we support parent carers and we are so excited to be partnering with The Alliance to deliver this three-year project.”

Find out more about Contact’s work in Scotland.

The Contact Weekly Lottery is turning 5, but you’re the one getting a present!

We’re giving away 5 free entries to celebrate our lottery’s fifth birthday. This means you’ll have 5 extra chances to bag one of our cash prizes, including our amazing £10,000 jackpot – all while helping families with disabled children flourish.

Simply sign up by Friday 31 July and we’ll add 5 free entries to your first draw once we receive your first direct debit payment.

What an amazing 5 years it’s been

Claim your 5 free entries and you could win big

Entries cost just £1 a week, and your ticket will help fund Contact’s life-saving advice and support services that families of children with additional needs rely on.

And if you think you don’t stand a chance, think again… Just last month, we had the pleasure of telling parent carer Kimberley that she had won £1,000. She joined our lottery to give back to families like hers, and now she’ll get to treat her three SEND boys to a much-deserved holiday with her winnings.

Emma’s story wasn’t much different: as a mum of two autistic sons, little did she know that her generosity in wanting to help families like hers through our lottery would turn into a huge £10,000 jackpot!

Kimberley and Emma are just two of hundreds of parent carers who have won big in the Contact Weekly Lottery.

By joining the Contact Weekly Lottery, you’ll help us make a difference to the thousands of families who turn to us each year for the vital advice and support they need to give their disabled children the best chances in life.

People from Contact in party hats, blowing whistles, with a party banner and cake

Today is DinoDay, our annual event to raise vital funds for Contact’s support services for families with disabled children.

Thousands of incredible families across the UK have been taking on 19 activities in the DinoDay Challenge, raising over £45,000 so far! A huge, dinosaur-sized thank you to everyone taking part in the challenge, or hosting a DinoDay event.

DinoDay is a tribute to Cameron Mathieson and his family’s fight for justice. Today, on what would have been Cameron’s 18th birthday, we’re keeping his family in our thoughts. Please take a moment to read his inspiring story below, and the impact his family’s journey has had on so many.

Chip into the DinoDay fundraiser

You can help get DinoDay over the £50,000 mark by donating today. Your donation could be life-changing for the families we support, and is a brilliant way of acknowledging the amazing efforts of all the children fundraising this June. Like Noah, who has completed 19 laps on this disability trike.

A big thank you from all of us at Contact

Contact teams across the UK joined in the DinoDay celebrations today, with our head office even going out on a 19-minute dinosaur stomp!

We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has fundraised. Your incredible efforts and inspiring challenge stories have truly touched us.

Tiled collage of Contact employees celebrating DinoDay

The story behind DinoDay

Today is all about raising awareness of Cameron Mathieson and his family’s successful campaign to stop Disability Living Allowance (DLA) payments from being taken away from children who spent over 12 weeks in hospital.

Ten years ago, we supported Cameron and his family in challenging this unfair rule. Together, we took our fight all the way to the Supreme Court — and won! As a result, no other family with a child who spends long periods in hospital has been denied this essential financial support.

Dinosaurs (or dowsers, as he called them) were Cameron’s favourite animal, especially his green triceratops called Troy.

Today would have been Cameron’s 18th birthday, so we are thinking of his family during this difficult time.

The money raised from DinoDay will help us continue to campaign for a fairer society and support families with disabled children. It will also fund vital projects like By Your Side, providing help to families with seriously ill children in hospital, just as we did for Cameron’s family.

Cameron Mathieson smiling in hospital with his toys

It’s been just a couple of weeks since registrations opened for this year’s DinoDay Challenge and we’re already well over halfway to our fundraising target of £25,000!

This year’s challenge has been off to a roaring start, with thousands of participating children raising over £15,000 in donations from more than 1,250 supporters.

In fact, DinoDay is now in the top 1% out of thousands of active fundraising campaigns on JustGiving!

If you still haven’t joined, don’t worry: there’s still plenty of time to get involved in our inclusive and family-friendly challenge this June.

How to join the DinoDay Challenge

Getting involved couldn’t be easier. Simply register for your child’s free DinoDay t-shirt and activity tracker, choose a fun challenge to take on (inspired by the number 19), and then set up your JustGiving fundraiser so friends and family can sponsor you.

We have detailed instructions on how to join the DinoDay Challenge on our website, as well as answers to almost any question you might have in our DinoDay FAQs.

Most families will be kicking off their challenge in June, but many couldn’t wait and decided to get started in May. It’s entirely up to you when to start, as long as you complete your challenge by the end of June.

There’s no fundraising target, but your child will get a digital certificate to mark their achievement if they raise more than £10 — and a special DinoDay medal for raising over £30!

Get inspired by this year’s participants

If you’d like some inspiration, parents in our special Dinoday Facebook group have been sharing all sorts of creative ideas of what to do for their challenge this year.

As well as the more popular choices like doing 19 acts of kindness and reading 19 books, we’ve also seen some unique ideas that we hadn’t come across before — such as completing 19 obstacle courses and cooking exotic new dishes from 19 different countries.

So far, this year’s superstar fundraiser has been 10-year-old Noah, who has been completing 19 laps on his new disability tricycle (and sharing brilliant updates of his adventures on his JustGiving page along the way).

Side-by-side photos of young boy in a green DinoDay shirt riding a disability tricycle

Noah has already raised more than £800 from nearly 50 donations in under two weeks. That’s almost as much as what last year’s top fundraiser raised in two months!

We couldn’t be prouder of all the amazing children who have been dedicating their time to completing the DinoDay Challenge so they can help raise vital funds for Contact’s life-saving services for families with disabled children.

Register to join them today and have a blast completing a roar-some challenge of your choice this summer!