Pears FoundationWorking in partnership with Contact since March 2011. Pears Foundation support and investment enables us to provide the families of disabled children with vital emotional and practical support. Whatever their child’s condition, whenever they need us, wherever they are in the UK. As an innovative and forward-thinking funder, Pears Foundation generously invests in Contact’s core costs. The benefits of this are two-fold: it allows us scope to use funding to best effect for families today, and it helps build our capacity to be there for more families in the future. Pears Foundation support is also helping us strengthen our community of rare medical condition support groups. Recent funding allowed a number of rare condition support groups to continue their vital work. Support groups like Echo and Rett UK are a lifeline to families, but have limited funding opportunities. Many were hit hard by the pandemic and found themselves in danger of closing or no longer able to offer the services they once did. Pears Foundation meant Contact could award a grant of up to £17k to support some of these groups. Thanks to Pears Foundation, we can bring these support groups together to network, share ideas and expertise, and deepen relationships. They can tap into Contact’s wider services for UK families with a disabled child and partner with us – something we know support groups and the families they work with value. All of this means families have the support they need in the longer term. Previous to this, Pears Foundation funded a 12-month high-impact pilot programme. Contact and Family Fund worked in partnership to help families secure Disability Living Allowance payments. This project transformed families’ financial circumstances. In fact, some families doubled their previous income. “Pears Foundation’s support for Contact has transformed families’ lives for the better. Core funding is vital as we navigate the changing needs of families and a fluctuating economic environment. It is absolutely brilliant to have such a forward-thinking partner. We greatly appreciate their commitment, insight and passion to help families with disabled children feel valued, confident and able to live the lives they want to.” Amanda Batten, Contact CEO