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.
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity is an integrated health and education service. The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.
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.
In the UK today there are around half a million children and young people with brain conditions that result in complex medical, educational and social support needs. Cerebra are a charity that help these children and their families discover a better life together. Families where a child has a brain condition face challenges every day. Just to learn, play, make friends, enjoy and experience the world can feel difficult, even impossible. But we don’t believe there’s any challenge that can’t be overcome.
Cerebra listen to families, learn from them, we work with them. We carry out research, we design and innovate, we make and share. From new equipment to new learning resources, to new ways to play and support each other, everything we find out together makes life better. It opens doors to discovering the world. It’s an incredibly rewarding journey for everyone involved. Why not be a part of it? You never know what we’ll discover together. Through their research Cerebra offer solutions and advice to help these children and their families enjoy lives full of hope and discovery. Cerebra's specialist postal library contains a wide range of books for both adults and children and a selection of toys specially chosen for children with brain conditions. This service is free for anyone in the UK caring for a child with a brain condition and is easy to use.
The toy library has a variety of sensory toys for all sorts of different needs. Whether your child is sensory seeking or sensory sensitive, Cerebra have a kit that’s suitable. If they’re learning about cause and effect or have limited mobility, one of their switch toys could be just the thing for them. Cerebra also have soft play toys and communication aids. Your child could discover a new favourite sound, sight, smell or way to play with one of these toys. This service is free and easy to use. You can borrow one item at a time for 28 days. They are delivered and collected by courier, which Cerebra arrange for you.
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.
Imago provides support and opportunities to people, families, and communities across Kent, East Sussex, Medway and South London. Our services focus on improving health and wellbeing, tackling loneliness, building social and educational opportunities, and helping people access the right support.
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.
National and online support. 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Tourettes Action is a support and research charity working to improve the lives of people living with Tourette syndrome. Their services include online live-chat and email support, online and face-to-face support groups, training, webinars, events and resources.
ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can make it hard to concentrate. Find out about ADHD, what the signs are and where to get support.