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Fight For Our Future

More than half of disabled children don’t have the specialist equipment they need, according to our Fight For Our Future report. Join our campaign for better and fairer support for children.

Disabled children have the same right to play, learn and take part in everyday life as their peers.

When equipment isn’t provided at the right time, it creates avoidable barriers that limit children’s opportunities. Too often, the systems designed to support them are slow, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. 

We are calling on the Government to deliver urgent, cost‑effective reforms that remove these barriers and ensure disabled children get the future they deserve. 

Download the Fight for our future report (opens in new tab)

What families tell us

We spoke with hundreds of families, professionals and local services to understand the scale of the issue. In In Fight for Our Future we reveal that:

  • Only 2 in 5 families say their child has all the specialist equipment they need
  • Assessment waiting lists have grown by over 60% in many areas in the past year
  • Nearly half of local services cut their equipment budgets last year despite rising demand

Families tell us they are waiting too long, fighting too hard or going without essential equipment altogether. 

These delays make daily life more challenging than it needs to be and place unnecessary pressure on families and professionals who want to help disabled children thrive.

Information:

Behind every statistic is a real person’s story

Fighting for those just like Rhys

Image shows a young boy with his mum strapping him into an adapted wheelchair

Rhys is a teenager from Uxbridge. He loves being active, playing football and involved in everyday family life. After major surgery, Rhys needed suitable equipment to move safely around his home. It’s something that should have been straightforward, but Rhys and his family became stuck inside the system.

His mum, Kelly, describes the emotional toll of constantly pushing against barriers that shouldn’t be there:

I was left feeling exhausted. We do all the right things but feel constantly failed. Everything is a massive battle. No one should have to fight just for their basic human rights.”

KELLY, RHYS’S MUM

Lengthy waits have a huge impact

Picture shows a child in a buggy supplied by Newlife holding a soft toy shark.

Children are suffering. It’s hard for any family to get the equipment they need at the right time. We are seeing children deteriorate and not being able to achieve their full potential due to the lack of equipment and wait times.

LAUREN, ROMAN’S MUM

Roman Pearse, aged two, has Cerebral Palsy affecting all four limbs. He can’t sit up, crawl or roll over unaided, which makes having the right postural support crucial.

Local services agreed Roman needed a specialist buggy to keep him supported and prevent long-term damage, however they estimated it would be 12 months until this could be provided.

What you can do

Rhys and Roman are just two of thousands of children who can’t access the equipment and support they need to live independent lives. 

Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

  • Get social: Download the report, read it and share it. Use the hashtags #FightForOurFuture #ACTNow to boost impact.
  • Donate today: Anything you can give will help us to support children with disabilities and their families.
  • Write to your MP: Tell your MP why they need to make disabled children a priority. Download letter.
  • Share your story: Tell us your experiences. We can use your experiences to advocate for more support and to simplify the system.