Charities To Know About
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Navigating your child's journey from newborn to toddler, and then to preschool and school years, can often feel like a whirlwind. As they grow, you may encounter challenges like school avoidance or finding the right school that meets your child's unique needs. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to a new world full of unknowns—researching funding options, understanding the EHCP process, exploring diagnosis pathways, and assessing various needs.
All of this can feel overwhelming, especially while managing family struggles, behavioral challenges, routine changes, and possibly the loss of friends and support. It can leave you feeling isolated and unsure of where to turn. But you’re not alone. Many parents experience similar challenges, and there are charities ready to help. From navigating everyday difficulties like toileting, sleep, and eating to providing guidance on how to keep your child safe and supported, charities are a vital resource for SEND families.
Life in a neurodiverse household can be difficult and sometimes lonely, but there is support out there. These charities are here to walk alongside you and your child every step of the way. Below are some of our top charity recommendations for parents who are struggling and seeking help.
Join the community. This online community is a place for autistic people and their families to meet like-minded people and share their experiences. EarlyBird (under five years), EarlyBird Plus (ages four-nine), and Teen Life (ages 10 to 16) are support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with autistic children.
Making a difference to the lives of disabled children and their families Space 2 Be Me work across west Kent (mainly Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells) with disabled children and young people with additional needs aged from birth to 25 and their families. That’s the work that they do everyday through activities & events, family support, and clubs.
The PDA Society is the only specialist PDA charity in the UK. Their goal is to try and make life better for PDA people and their families because they believe that happy, autonomous lives are possible. Their strong commitment to research underpins every step taken towards improving understanding, support and outcomes for PDA people in the future.
Being a carer can be overwhelming, but finding the right support shouldn't be. Carers Trust is here to provide help for carers, offering access to a variety of resources and services tailored to your unique needs. Whether you need local support, financial assistance, or legal guidance, Carers Trust are here to give the right support for carers.
ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children's bowel and bladder health. Their mission is to reduce the impact of continence problems on children.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The only UK charity specifically focussed on the needs of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour may be described as challenging, and their families.
The Kent Autistic Trust are a well-respected specialist provider of services for autistic young people and adults and have a passion for people on the spectrum. A new condensed service for Family Support adults will be available on their website from September and will offer group meetings, email advice, information and online training to autistic adults and their support network.
Support and guidance through all stages of education. Supporting families caring for a young autistic person. They are currently holding advice clinics via zoom or telephone call. Each appointment lasts for up to 45 minutes and advice is tailored to your individual family circumstances. They can support you both pre and post diagnosis, and their family support advisors have lived experience. The Autism Apprentice also offers The Real Life Autism Course. This is a six week, virtual (via Zoom), interactive course delivered by experts by experience. There are no more than 12 participants in each group plus 2 family support advisors.