The government is consulting on proposals to improve Carer’s Allowance, the main benefit for carers.
The Carer’s Allowance call for evidence is particularly looking at whether to introduce an earnings taper, alongside changes to rules that cap how many hours a claimant can work.
The government says that Carer’s Allowance has become outdated and does not reflect modern work and care patterns. It was first introduced half a century ago.
We have long called for the government to review the Carer’s Allowance earnings cliff-edge. Carer’s Allowance rules mean carers lose the entirety of their financial support if they earn even one penny too much.
The action plan aims to improve the lives of unpaid carers. The plan concentrates on three themes: recognising the role unpaid carers play; ensuring they can access the support they need; and helping them to reach their full potential.
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve secured funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to launch our By YourSide service in Northern Ireland for the first time.
By Your Side is Contact’s hospital support service for families with disabled, seriously ill, and additional needs children. We provide support whatever the health condition and whether a diagnosis is in place or not.
Our By Your Side Advisers offer free drop-in support at participating hospitals, giving parent carers the opportunity to talk through anything that is affecting them. From benefits and finances to education, diagnosis, health services and emotional wellbeing.
Where you can find us
Our Northern Ireland service launches this summer in Belfast and Antrim, and you can find us at the following hospitals. You don’t need an appointment; simply drop in during our service hours.
Antrim Area hospital between 10.30am-1.30pm on the following dates:
Tuesday 28 July
Thursday 17 September
Tuesday 13 October
And we’re at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, between10.30am-1.30pm on Thursday 20 August.
Susan Walls, Head of Programmes for Northern Ireland says:
“We’re incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding By Your Side in Northern Ireland. We know how overwhelming and stressful a hospital stay or appointment can be for families, and so having someone independent who can listen, offer practical advice and provide emotional support makes a real difference.
“This is a significant milestone for Contact. By Your Side is now available in three of the UK’s four nations: England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It means we can reach and support more families than ever during some of their most challenging moments.”
Visit our Contact NI page to see our full offer for families in Northern Ireland. Visit our By Your Side page for more information on our service and participating hospitals around the UK.
Our first Sheffield Positive Imaginings performance last Sunday was a wonderful success.
More than 80 people joined us at the start, and over 70 stayed until the end. The woods were beautiful and cool, and families were full of enthusiasm and lovely feedback.
The Positive Imaginings Show is an immersive, family-friendly outdoor theatre experience. The performance moves along an accessible woodland route, meeting different characters and imagining a brighter, fairer future along the way.
At our interactive Woodland Workshops, children can play and connect with nature, while adults share their hopes for the future and develop skills and confidence to engage with politicians about the issues that matter to them.
Live in Yorkshire? Join us next week
Now Positive Imaginings is coming back to Ecclesall Woods in Sheffield, with three free events for families.
Thursday 30 July, 1.30pm–4.30pm Please arrive at 1.15pm • Positive Imaginings Circus Show at 1.30pm • Woodland Workshop at 3.30pm Book Thursday’s event
Friday 31 July, 10.30am–1.30pm Please arrive at 10.15am • Positive Imaginings Circus Show at 10.30am • Woodland Workshop at 12.30pm Book Friday’s Event
Saturday 1 August, 10.30am–12.30pm Please arrive at 10.15am • Woodland Workshop from 10.30am Book Saturday’s Workshop
All events take place next to the Woodland Discovery Centre in Ecclesall Woods, 260 Abbey Lane, Sheffield S7 2QZ.
Welcoming disabled children and their families
Accessibility is at the heart of these events. The site has an accessible car park and toilet, and we’ll provide a quiet space and ear defenders. Children are welcome to move around, make noise or take time away whenever they need to.
The venue is also served by the 218 bus. Thanks to National Lottery funding, we can help some families with travel costs through vouchers that can be used in supermarkets and other shops.
Please share this invitation with other families who might enjoy the events. We’d love to see you in the woods!
Disabled children from low-income families are missing out on free government holiday activities, the Children’s Commissioner in England is warning.
A report published this week finds that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are a third less likely to access the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme than other children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Disabled children are missing out due to activities being too far away, inaccessible or lacking the support these children need.
The Commissioner calls on the government to provide a fully-inclusive HAF programme, accessible transport and extra support for disabled children.
The HAF programme provides free holiday clubs, healthy meals and activities for children receiving free school meals. Local authorities administer the programme in their area.
“Too often we hear from families with disabled children who are dreading the summer holidays. They know it means increased isolation and lack of social contact as their children are left out of activities with their peers. We support the Children’s Commissioners calls for funding to ensure the HAF programme is fully-inclusive. And we would like to see a percentage of activities prioritised for disabled children, and training for providers on SEND and reasonable adjustments.”
This Q&A for was families in England, but you can find advice on this topic wherever you live in the UK on our school transport webpages.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a question to our recent home-to-school transport Q&A. We received a wide range of enquiries from families across England, covering transport to school, college and post-16 education for children and young people with SEND.
Although every family’s circumstances are different, several common themes emerged.
Transport changes after age 16
The most common questions related to what happens when a young person turns 16.
Many families were surprised to learn that the law changes at the end of compulsory school age. While local authorities have a legal duty to provide free home-to-school transport for eligible children aged five–16, there is no equivalent duty to provide free transport after age 16. Instead, councils must publish a Post-16 Transport Policy Statement explaining what support is available locally and how eligibility is assessed.
Having an education, health and care (EHC) plan does not automatically entitle a young person to free transport after age 16. Local authorities should consider individual needs, disabilities, ability to travel independently and other relevant circumstances when making decisions.
Understanding your local authority’s transport policy
Many questions highlighted how important it is to read your local authority’s transport policy carefully.
Each council sets out its own eligibility criteria, application process, appeal arrangements and, where applicable, any parental contributions towards transport costs.
Families should always check application deadlines, as late applications may delay decisions before the new academic year.
Appeals and challenging decisions
Several families asked what they could do if transport had been refused or changed.
Where a local authority refuses transport or asks families to contribute towards costs, there is usually an appeals process. When challenging a decision, it can help to refer directly to the council’s own transport policy, relevant statutory guidance and any supporting evidence about the young person’s needs and circumstances.
Parent preference and school transport
A number of questions focused on situations where a school had been named because of parental preference.
In some circumstances, where a local authority believes another nearer suitable school could meet a child’s needs, this may affect entitlement to transport. Whether this applies depends on the individual circumstances and how the placement decision was made.
Personal Transport Budgets
Some families asked whether they could arrange transport themselves.
Where transport support is agreed, some local authorities may offer a Personal Transport Budget or similar arrangement instead of organised transport. This allows eligible families to make their own travel arrangements where appropriate.
Individual circumstances matter
We also received questions about reduced timetables, shared care arrangements, changes in family circumstances, very young children starting school, transport during periods of extreme heat, and young people aged 19–25.
These situations often depend on individual circumstances, the relevant legislation and the local authority’s published policies. In many cases there is no single answer that applies to every family.
Need advice about your own situation?
Our responses in this Q&A were tailored to each family’s individual circumstances. If you need advice about your own child or young person’s transport arrangements, our free helpline can provide guidance based on your specific situation.
Thank you again to everyone who took the time to send us a question.
People with learning disabilities are far more likely to die prematurely from preventable illnesses such as respiratory and heart disease, according to the latest LeDeR findings.
On average, people with a learning disability die at 62.8 years, compared with 81.8 years in the general population. That’s a 19‑year gap. People with Down syndrome had an average lifespan of 59.8 years and high rates of dementia.
The King’s College Learning from Lives and Deaths study reported that around half of all deaths in people with learning disabilities were from treatable conditions, including respiratory infections, epilepsy and heart disease.
Suicide, misadventure and accidents were the most common causes of premature death for autistic people without a learning disability. However, this data is less reliable due to under‑reporting. Avoidable deaths fell slightly in the last three years from 46% to 39%. But the rates are almost twice those seen in the general population.
A reminder that timely, accessible healthcare is vital
Contact’s health lead Amanda Elliot said the annual LeDeR report was always a deeply distressing read, but also a reminder that timely, accessible healthcare is vital to ensure people with learning disabilities and autistic people live long and healthy lives:
“Families shouldn’t have to fight for basic healthcare. Yet too many disabled children grow up in a system that fails to spot problems early enough, fails to listen to parents, and rarely makes the reasonable adjustments they’re legally entitled to. The life‑expectancy gap is unacceptable, and it starts with the care children receive today.”
Stronger accountability in health, so every child gets the support and interventions they need to live a long, healthy life.
The Government plans to replace LeDeR with a new national dataset covering autism, ADHD, learning disability and Down syndrome.
Contact will monitor this to ensure children’s needs are properly captured and accountability for tackling health inequalities is not lost.
Andy Burnham MP takes office today, becoming the next Prime Minster. Families across the UK will be hoping that improving support for disabled children and young people becomes an early priority.
Drawing on the experiences of the hundreds of thousands of families Contact supports each year, we know parents want practical changes that make everyday life easier, reduce unnecessary stress and end the constant battles many face to get the support they need. There are many challenges ahead, but there are also opportunities to make meaningful progress from day one.
“The first 100 days of a new government set the tone for what follows. Families with disabled children aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for practical changes that remove unnecessary barriers and give their children the opportunity to thrive. These three actions would make a real difference to thousands of families across the country.”
Contact CEO Anna Bird
Here are three opportunities we believe should be at the heart of Mr Burnham’s first 100 days.
Unlock Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs for disabled young people
Around 80,000 disabled young people who lack the mental capacity to manage their own finances are unable to access savings held in Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs because of an outdated, costly and lengthy court process.
There is now real momentum behind finding a solution. Baroness Levitt recently brought together ministers, financial services providers, charities and parent carers to explore practical UK-wide options. We welcome that commitment. We urge the government to build on this work so disabled young people can finally access money that belongs to them.
The solution we are championing could unlock more than £210 million belonging to disabled young people. And by building on existing industry processes, it avoids creating significant additional costs for government.
Create a fairer, simpler social care system for disabled children
Too many parent carers tell us that asking for help feels like a battle. Families often have to fight for basic support, repeat their stories time and again, and reach crisis point before help is available. Some families even tell us they feel blamed simply for asking for the support their child is entitled to.
The Law Commission has already set out clear recommendations to modernise disabled children’s social care law in England. Implementing these recommendations would create a simpler, fairer and kinder system, giving families greater confidence that support will be available when they need it, preventing crises and reducing the stigma that too often surrounds asking for help.
Build trust in SEND reforms by listening to families
The SEND White Paper in England presents an opportunity to improve support, but many families remain worried about the proposals. Contact has been working with parent carers to understand what needs to change. Families consistently tell us they want confidence that the support promised to their child will actually be delivered.
As the proposals are developed, we urge Ministers and officials to listen carefully to families. They must ensure that support set out in Individual Support Plans is legally enforceable. There should be clear rights of appeal when support is not provided.
Children and families need a SEND system that builds trust, strengthens accountability and improves outcomes.
Looking ahead
These three opportunities are practical, achievable and would make a real difference to disabled children and their families. They should also mark the beginning of a longer-term commitment to building a more secure future.
By listening to families, Mr Burnham and his ministerial team have an opportunity to create a fairer, kinder and more inclusive system that gives every disabled child and young person the chance to thrive.
Contact stands ready to work constructively with the new government, helping ensure parent carers have meaningful opportunities to share their experiences and shape the policies and laws that affect their families.
The meeting marked a major milestone in our mission to elevate parent voice. We wanted to put families directly in front of the key decision-makers who have the power to fix this system.
“A sledgehammer to crack a nut”
When a young person lacking mental capacity turns 18, their families often find it difficult to help them access savings.
They are forced to navigate the complex, often costly and lengthy Court of Protection process just to look after money that belongs to their child. Contact is supporting parent Andrew Turner’s campaign to change this.
Jim Islam CEO of financial provider OneFamily summed it up:
“Asking families to go through the Court of Protection process to access a Child Trust Fund is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”
Contact Changemakers Claire Stockton and Michele Creed closed the meeting by powerfully sharing their own lived experiences. They spoke about the heavy emotional toll the current rules place on families and the urgent changes needed.
Justice Minister praises “powerful case” made by campaigners
The meeting saw a positive, solution-focussed tone from the government, driven by the genuine commitment of Justice Minister, Baroness Alison Levitt.
Baroness Levitt praised the tireless work of families. She stated that campaigners like Andrew Turner and Contact have made a “powerful case”. She directly acknowledged the flaw in the current legal framework:
“The law is in the wrong place, and we have created a system that is disproportionately complex and time-consuming.”
Baroness Levitt, Justice Minister
The Minister emphasised that fixing this problem requires cross-governmental working. Rachel Blake from the Treasury echoed this sentiment, noting that they were “very keen to understand the issues.” The shift in energy was palpable, with Lord Young observing that “the whole tone of this debate has changed thanks to Alison [Baroness Levitt].”
Cross-party and financial industry support
We were backed by a fantastic turnout of supportive MPs, including John Milne, Sarah Smith, Ben Coleman, and Daniel Francis. All spoke passionately about the urgent need to resolve this barrier for families.
Major financial providers OneFamily, Nationwide, and Santander also joined the call for a simplified, government-backed solution. Crucially, they shared details of the vital work that they are already doing, using their own self-developed industry process to release funds safely to parents without forcing them through the courts.
Contact’s view
“Seeing a parent-led campaign and watching our families stand in Parliament, in a room full of Ministers, MPs, financial providers and other stakeholders was a really powerful moment.
Contact is dedicated to amplifying parent voice. Last week proved that when decision-makers sit down and truly listen to the realities of what disabled families are experiencing, it is hard to ignore the need for change.
We now need to see this desire for change turned into a workable solution for families, so that young people everywhere can access their savings”.
Maria Scholey, Campaigns Engagement Lead at Contact
What you can do next
If you are worried about your child’s savings being locked away, or want to help support our campaign, you can:
Join the community: Connect with hundreds of parents navigating this exact issue, share tips on using the provider “industry process”, and get active in the Unlock Our Savings Facebook group.
The Timms review into PIP’s steering group has published its interim report, which ultimately finds that the disability benefit is “highly-valued” but “no longer fit-for-purpose”.
The report says that “many disabled people speak powerfully and negatively of the process of applying for PIP, describing it as “dehumanising”, “soul destroying”, and “degrading”.” More than 90% of respondents found the experience of claiming PIP to be negative.
The report backs up our submitted evidence that the system does not reflect the experience of people with fluctuating conditions. As a result, “PIP functional assessment does not always fully reflect real world need.” The system is also difficult to navigate for people advocating on their own behalf.
However the financial support offered through PIP to meet the genuine additional cost of disability is valued and necessary. Going forward, we urge the government to ensure that remains.
Contact’s view on the interim report
Derek Sinclair, our Family Finance Adviser, said:
“We agree that the current PIP assessment process is not fit for purpose and needs changing. Families tell us that the current process is dehumanising and stressful. It has clearly created low levels of trust in the fairness of the PIP system. We want to see PIP assessments replaced by a new process that treats disabled young people with fairness and dignity.
“However alongside improving the PIP assessment process it’s vital that in moving forward, the Timms Review acknowledges the need to continue providing financial support to all of those facing additional disability-related costs and does not seek to restrict spending on PIP.
“Much of the discussion around PIP is framed around rising claimant numbers and expenditure. However, the country has only recently emerged from a global pandemic and associated public health crisis, alongside rising poverty and a cost-of-living crisis. During this period many disabled people and carers have experienced significant deterioration in their physical and mental health. Meanwhile, demand for already-stretched health and social care services has increased. The solution to rising levels of ill-health should focus on tackling the root causes of poor health and poverty, rather than restricting access to disability benefits.
“We believe any eventual reforms of PIP arising from the Timms Review must be rooted in the real experiences of disabled people and their families and recognise the genuine additional costs associated with disability. Families need a system that supports participation and independence, treats disabled people with respect, and provides security rather than fear and uncertainty.”
Contact’s calls for change
We are calling for:
A more person-centred assessment process that properly reflects people’s real day-to-day experiences.
Better recognition of mental health conditions, neurodiversity, fluctuating conditions and the impact of supervision and night-time care.
Greater flexibility and accessibility in assessments, including giving claimants choice over face-to-face, telephone, video or paper-based assessments.
Fewer unnecessary reassessments for people with lifelong conditions unlikely to improve.
Improved training and understanding among assessors.
More detailed and transparent decision-making.
Properly funded advice and advocacy services to help families navigate the system.
Stronger safeguards to ensure disabled people are treated with dignity and respect throughout the process.
The public narrative must stop framing disability benefits as a barrier to work. Many disabled young people rely on PIP to access education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities.
The Timms review is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.
By Your Side Scotland was launched five years ago. Through the service, we support families with disabled children, children with additional needs and children with serious health conditions in hospital settings.
Hospital stays and appointments can be an overwhelming time for families. By Your Side offers free information, advice and emotional support to families while their child is staying in or attending hospital. Families can talk to a parent adviser about anything that is affecting them. From benefits and finances to education, diagnosis, health services and emotional wellbeing.
This new funding will enable us to run a By Your Side service on a monthly basis at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. Families will be able to meet with two Contact parent advisers during drop-in sessions.
Alongside the service at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, we also continue to run our existing drop-ins at University Hospital Wishaw.
You can see us at both hospitals over summer on the following times and days. Look out for the Contact information stand inside the main entrance. No appointment is needed, come and see us at any time during our service hours:
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow – Tuesday 14 July, 10am – 2pm.
University Hospital Wishaw – Tuesday 28 July, 10am – 2pm.
University Hospital Wishaw – Tuesday 25 August, 10am – 2pm.
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow – August. Date tbc (see our Contact Scotland Facebook page for updates).
School and college transport is a major concern for families with disabled children. Parents tell us their transport applications have been refused, or that they are worried about the suitability and safety of the arrangements offered.
We also hear from parent carers of young people moving on to college who are unsure about their transport rights or offered unsuitable options such as public transport bus passes or personal travel budgets to drive their young person to school or college.
That is why we are providing a home to school/college transport Q&A.
This is your chance to get clear, tailored advice from our education helpline advisers.
Also, see our nations webpages for parent carers in for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Many of you will have seen the deeply troubling allegations reported by ITV News last week. A whistleblower described practices within a local authority that allegedly delayed or obstructed children and young people with SEND from accessing the support they need.
These allegations must be fully and independently investigated. They echo concerns that families share with us every day on our helpline and in our community services about lengthy delays, inconsistent decision-making and continuous battles to secure the support their children are legally entitled to.
Local authorities must ensure their decision-making is transparent, lawful and centred on the needs and rights of children and young people. These allegations also reinforce why the planned SEND reforms will only work if they strengthen and not weaken support, accountability and families confidence in the system. Families deserve a system they can trust – one that works with them, not against them.
If you need advice about routes to challenge local authority decisions, including complaints and lodging appeals to the SEND Tribunal, please call our helpline on 0808 808 3555.
When your child is in hospital, life can feel overwhelming and stressful. There are appointments to keep track of, unfamiliar medical language to understand and important decisions to make – all while trying to be there for your child. That’s why Contact’s By Your Sideteam is there. Our parent carer advisors offer a friendly face, practical advice and emotional support, helping parents with children in hospital find the support and answers they need at one of the most stressful times of their lives.
This year, we’re celebrating an important milestone – 10 years of support from legal firm Bolt Burdon Kemp (BBK). Their decade long partnership has helped make By Your Side a trusted source of support for families at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Evelina Children’s Hospital in London.
Support when – and where – it matters most
Having By Your Side advisers based in hospital means families can access free information and support when they need it, without having to book an appointment. Whether parents have questions about benefits, education, emotional wellbeing or simply need someone to listen, Contact’s By Your Side team are there to help them navigate the challenges of caring for a disabled or seriously ill child.
Ruth Stone from our London team of By Your Side advisers said:
“When a child is in hospital, parents can often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. Thanks to BBK’s incredible support over the past 10 years, our By Your Side team has been there to offer practical guidance, reassurance and a listening ear when families need it most. For families, that can be life-changing. Having someone who understands what they’re going through, can explain their options and point them towards the right support helps parents feel more informed, more confident and less alone. It has helped us build a service that families can truly rely on.”
Over the last decade, BBK’s support has helped Contact:
Maintain a regular face-to-face presence at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Evelina Children’s Hospital.
Support hundreds of parent carers when they are with their child in hospital.
Build trusted relationships with families and hospital teams.
Provide consistent, high-quality support year after year.
More than a funding partner
BBK’s support has always been about more than funding.
Over the years, they have fundraised for Contact by taking on the London Marathon, shared their expertise through webinars, podcasts and blogs for parent carers, provided meeting and training spaces, and helped raise awareness of the challenges families face. This year, Maya Englesberg from BBK continued that tradition by running the London Marathon for Contact.
Caroline Klage, brain injury lawyer at legal firm BBK and parent carer, says:
“We’re incredibly proud to have supported Contact’s By Your Side service for the past decade. Seeing the difference it makes for families facing some of the toughest moments of their lives has made this partnership so meaningful for everyone at BBK. We believe long-term partnerships create lasting change, and we’re delighted to continue supporting Contact so that even more parent carers can access the information and support they need. We look forward to continuing to work together to help even more parent carers in the years ahead.”
Thank you BBK!
Thank you to everyone at BBK for standing by Contact and, most importantly, standing by the families who have benefited from By Your Side over the last 10 years.
Here’s to the next decade of making a difference together.
Schools should develop a mobile phone policy, as part of wider behaviour policies. This should prohibit the use of phones throughout the day, including during and between lessons, at lunchtime and in breaks.
Schools must comply with reasonable adjustment duties
We are pleased that the guidance makes clear that schools must comply with their legal duties toward disabled pupils. The guidance explains there may be cases where a disabled pupil having access to a mobile phone in school is considered a reasonable adjustment. Likewise, pupils might need to use a phone to manage medical needs in school. Schools will determine and develop relevant practices.
Nearly four in 10 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England have been refused a place, had to leave a setting or attended fewer hours than they were entitled to.
We surveyed 168 families of young children with SEND. Parents also reported feeling dismissed or blamed at times.
Some children were offered reduced timetables from the outset because settings or schools lacked the staffing, funding or confidence to meet their needs safely.
Mary Mulvey-Oates, Early Years Lead at Contact, says:
“Too many families are still facing barriers to accessing the early years education and support their child is entitled to. Our survey shows that challenges around childcare, funding and specialist support often build up. This leaves parents to navigate services that are not always working together around the child.
“Many families are unable to access their full entitlement of funded childcare. Some report just a few hours of nursery a week. As the government improves the early years SEND offer, there is a real opportunity to strengthen inclusion so that every child gets the right support from the start.”
Family Hubs valued but under accessed
Other findings from our survey include:
Family Hubs appear positive where families use them, but reach is limited. Only 36.5% of respondents reported using a Family Hub, yet 72.2% of users found it welcoming. SEND-specific groups were most valued, while mainstream sessions could feel unsafe or unsuitable.
Portage-style support was repeatedly described as transformative. This suggests that home-visiting, modelling and relationship-based support may be particularly effective for families of young children with additional needs.
Reception transition is a significant pressure point for families of four–five-year-olds. Difficulties at transition include education, health and care (EHC) plan delays, placement disputes, funding concerns and reduced timetables.
Almost half (46.4%) of respondents reported difficulties relating to EHC plans. Parents frequently describe delays to assessment and decision-making alongside uncertainty about school placements and support.
Where systems work well, success is driven by proactive coordination between settings, families and practitioners. Information moves quickly, responsibilities are clear and practical support reaches the child’s daily setting.
What Contact would like to see
Transition planning should start before the final term of nursery, particularly for children with unresolved EHC plan, inclusion funding or health-planning issues.
Every child with identified additional needs should have a “day-one inclusion” checklist. This should cover communication, sensory needs, toileting or health plans, staffing, safe spaces, visual supports and family communication arrangements.
A named transition lead should coordinate information from parents, nursery, school, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, health visitors and local authority teams. Families should not be required to carry the whole information-sharing burden.
Reduced timetables during reception transition should be time-limited, reviewed and linked to a plan for increasing attendance. They should not become the default response to a lack of preparation or staffing.
Parents told us that the biggest difference occurs when practitioners listen to families, identify children’s needs early, and work with families to put support in place.
As the government implements Best Start in Life and proposes SEND reforms, there is a real opportunity to strengthen early years inclusion by investing in workforce confidence, parent participation and practical support that helps children access and thrive in early education.
The workshops are part of the Early Years SEND Partnership, helping practitioners, parent carers and local services improve early identification, strengthen joint working and provide more inclusive support for young children with SEND.
There’s still plenty of time for Scout groups to take part in our ROAR-some DinoDay Challenge before the end of the summer. We’d love your help reaching more groups across the UK.
Last week we celebrated DinoDay, our annual event to raise vital funds for Contact’s support services for families with disabled children. Thousands of families and children across the UK have been taking on 19 exciting activities for the DinoDay Challenge. They’ve raised over £46,000 so far!
But the fun doesn’t stop there, as groups are continuing their fundraising efforts throughout the summer. And we’d like to know: is your child in a Scout group who could take part in the DinoDay Challenge?
How can Scout groups get involved?
DinoDay is a flexible fundraising event, and Scout groups can take part in whatever way works best for them.
We encourage groups to get involved by completing activities inspired by the number 19. From dinosaur crafts and outdoor adventures to games, acts of kindness and any other creative challenges.
If your child attends Scouts, or if you know a local Scout leader, please consider sharing this opportunity to get involved with DinoDay. Scout groups can get in touch with us for more information at [email protected]
There are lots of exciting rewards for groups that take part. This includes free DinoDay t-shirts, and a digital certificate to celebrate every child’s achievement. Scout groups that raise £150 or more will receive an exclusive DinoDay trophy!
Taking part could also contribute towards a Scouts fundraising badge – helping children and young people to build confidence, teamwork and community-minded skills while making a meaningful difference to families with disabled children.
Help us support families who need us
Hannah Hassouni from Contact said:
“DinoDay is all about having fun while making a real difference to families with disabled children. We know many parents have links with Scout groups through their own children. We’d be incredibly grateful if you could help us share DinoDay with your group’s leaders. Together, we can help even more young people have fun, earn rewards and support families who need us.”
If you know a Scout leader who might be interested, we’d love for you to spread the word. Please encourage them to get in touch with us at [email protected]
Every pound raised through DinoDay helps Contact provide expert advice, information and emotional support to families with disabled children across the UK.
It’s been a busy few weeks for Contact Northern Ireland, as we continue to support families while strengthening key relationships.
Read on to find out what we’ve been up to….
Spotlight on disabled children’s rights at Stormont
At the end of May, Susan Walls, Northern Ireland Programme Manager, was invited to Stormont for the launch of a major new report. CINI (Children in Northern Ireland), the umbrella organisation for the children’s sector in Northern Ireland, hosted the event.
Left Out: Disabled Children’s Rights and Experiences in Northern Ireland is based on new research, including a survey of more than 1,100 parents and carers. It highlights significant inequalities disabled children experience across education, healthcare, play and leisure, participation, and standards of living. It concludes that disabled children are consistently less likely than their non-disabled peers to have their rights recognised in every one of these areas.
The event brought together policymakers, professionals, parent carers and organisations from across the sector. Together they discussed the findings and what needs to change to improve outcomes for disabled children and their families.
Highlighting challenges at Family Fund’s exhibition
In early June we were back at Stormont, this time for a Family Fund exhibition. This event brought together MLAs, policymakers and organisations to explore the challenges facing families raising disabled children across Northern Ireland.
The event focused on four key priorities families identified: financial inclusion, digital inclusion, play, and access to short breaks. Two important reports were highlighted. The Cost of Caring 2025 explores the financial pressures families raising disabled children face. Digitally Excluded 2026 examines how a lack of access to devices, connectivity and digital skills can prevent families from accessing services and support.
A range of political representatives and stakeholders attended the exhibition. This gave us the opportunity to share our own evidence of the challenges faced by families.
Pictured from left to right: Ruth Kane, Family Fund Policy and Public Affairs Manager NI , Joanne Bunting depute in the office of deputy 1st minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Susan Walls, Programme Manager, Contact Northern Ireland and Jan Wright from Fragile X.
Celebrating parent carers at the “We See You” event
At the end of May, our team were invited to a special event, organised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Described as a “We See You” event, it recognised parents and carers who care for children with disabilities. NI broadcaster Paul Clark hosted, and it was open to any family living in the area with a disabled child.
The morning featured a series of talks, presentations and discussions. The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, led a day of meaningful and empowering conversation, including a keynote speech reflecting on her experience as a parent of children with profound needs and how her family navigates everyday life. Next, Susan Walls about the work of Contact NI and how we support parents.
Other speakers and panellists included Sasha Gillespie, Law Lecturer at Ulster University and Alma White, from Caleb’s Cause. Alma won the ‘ChangeMaker Award’ at our Contact Awards last year. In the afternoon, families could chat and meet organisations directly, including the Contact NI team at our information stand.
After the event, we were delighted to receive some lovely feedback from the council:
“We’re very grateful to you for speaking and also hosting an information stand. Your involvement really enriched the event, which was such a new type of initiative for us (which can be daunting). We’re delighted that it all went so well and with positive feedback coming in, particularly about all the speakers and the signposting available. I especially loved your statement when you said, “We’ve got you now…” – that was very powerful. “
Pictured from left to right: Susan Walls, Contact NI, parent Adenike Yisa, the Mayor Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, a council representative, Host Paul Clark.
And finally….
We’re delighted to share that we’ve secured National Lottery Awards for All funding to launch and pilot our By Your Side service in Northern Ireland for the very first time.
This is a big milestone as it means that Contact will be operating By Your Side in three out of the four nations of the UK (England, Scotland and NI). This allows us to reach more families than ever who are staying in or visiting hospital.
We will be launching the new service at the end of this month, so more details will be coming soon.
From bushcraft activities to canoeing, science experiments and dance sessions, there are activities all over Scotland that will not only entertain your child but give you a bit of much-needed rest.
Some of the opportunities featured this year’s guide include:
Have we missed anything? If you know of any events or activities suitable for children with disabilities or ASN, email us at [email protected] and we’ll add them to our guide.
Are you a parent carer looking for extra support?
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