The Government has launched the Milburn Review into why so many 16–24‑year‑olds are not in education, employment or training. Disabled young people must be part of this conversation. They are calling for evidence until 30 January 2026.  Share your views: 📩 [email protected]

Happy New Year from all of us at Contact! ✨💫 Here’s to a year filled with more understanding, more support, and more moments of calm. Whatever 2026 brings, you won’t face it alone. Our helpline will be open again at 9.30am on 2nd January 2026 💚

Merry Christmas from all of us at Contact 🎄💚 Today, we’re thinking of every family in our community, those celebrating, those resting, those navigating challenges, and those finding their own unique ways to make Christmas work. Thank you for being part of a community that lifts each other up 💚

The Government has launched the Milburn Review into why so many 16–24‑year‑olds are not in education, employment or training. Disabled young people must be part of this conversation. They are calling for evidence until 30 January 2026.  Share your views: 📩 [email protected]

Our UK-wide advice and information helpline will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve (24 December) and reopen at 9.30am on Friday 2 January 2026. While we’re closed, our emails, web forms, live chat and social media pages will be unmoderated. We’ll respond as soon as we can once we reopen.

Sonia is a lone parent who juggles part-time work while caring for her severely disabled son and two other children. When we talked, it became clear how much unpaid time she had to take off work – and how hard it was to keep up with the bills.

If you are the parent to a 14-23 yr old, they are likely to have a Child Trust Fund. If they are younger, you (or wider family) might be saving via schemes such as a Junior ISA. We know that many of our parent carers have concerns for their child’s financial future and want to help them.

The government has announced an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism, which will inform the new NHS Long Term Plan. While understanding services is important, we’re concerned this review comes at a time when there’s a growing narrative about children being “overdiagnosed”.

Help us spread this small but mighty message of recognition, solidarity, and support for families who all too often carry more than many realise. All we ask is a £10 donation to show your solidarity 👉 contact.org.uk/stickers

In 2024/25, 381,000 parents trusted Contact for clear, reliable information when navigating disability, education, benefits and care. You can read our full annual report 2024/5 here: https://f.mtr.cool/dkwaveodjh

£3billion cash injection to increase local school spaces for children with special educational needs in England... Read more here 👇

CEO Anna Bird, has given evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry about the experiences of families with disabled children of the social care system. Read more 👇

Our helpline will be closed today from midday, and will reopen tomorrow at 9.30 am  Remember you can access a wealth of information and expert advice on our website! 🔗💚

A new study suggests disabled children and their families may be unfairly targeted by child protection investigations when they turn to social care for support.

Below is an extract of Contact's CEO Anna Bird giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee's inquiry into home to school transport on Monday 8 December 2025.

In couples who both provide care, only one parent can have automatic exemption from work-related requirements in their Universal Credit award.  The Department of Work and Pensions has a discretionary power to exempt the other parent.

Thank you to Anna Bird, CEO of @contactfamilies.bsky.social for reminding MP’s that some children will always need support with getting to school. My son is one of those young people who no longer receives transport to school even though he has a #LearningDisability and cannot travel without support

All carers in Scotland who were getting either the Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 13 October 2025 should have received a lump sum payment of £293.50 from Social Security Scotland.

Today the government has published its long-awaited Child Poverty Strategy. Read Contact's response here 👇

If you've not managed to get a ticket to one of the SEND Conversation events, you can still submit your own questions and views before 14th January 2026! Tell the DFE what works and what needs to change.🔗

We asked parents in our community to share what really helps them keep things magical while reducing stress. If you’ve discovered your own helpful strategies, we’d love you to share them in the comments, your ideas could make a huge difference to another family this year 🎄🎅🎁

Over the summer, we held a series of focus group with parent carers of children who either currently attend a SEN unit or resource base or have done in the past.

We love this article from CBBC on this year's #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities and six incredible people you should know about. Anyone not mentioned that you think should be? Let us know in the comments! Give it a read here 👇

FREE WORKSHOP: Understanding your child's sensory differences (0-5 years) Date: 9th December 2025 Time: 7-9pm  Book your free place here 👇

We've submitted our film about Contact's Ealing team for a Smiley Charity Film Award!  We’d really appreciate your support! You can vote for us here: https://f.mtr.cool/mfwakwknhl  Voting closes on the 30 January 🤞💚

📢 More dates added: SEND Regional Engagement Events 📢 Registration is first-come, first-served based on venue capacity. Find out more and book here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rbkfnnhefg

Over half of families referred for NHS funding that helps children who need help to breathe, eat, or manage pain, are denied. Parents are left doing complex nursing tasks alone, night after night. Sign the petition for change here: https://f.mtr.cool/mnhkbtredw

Yesterday’s budget statement included a number of announcements involving changes in the rules for working age benefits. Read our more in-depth summary here 👇

Our summary of today's Budget is now ready. Find out what it means for families with disabled children here 👇

In today’s Budget, the Chancellor announced that the two-child benefit cap will be removed from April 2026. We know parents and carers will have lots of questions about what this means in practice. Our Family Finance Team is working through the details right now and will publish a summary soon 💚

The long-awaited findings of an independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments has been published this week Find out more here 👇

What an incredible evening celebrating parent carers, young people, their families and friends, and volunteers who go above and beyond every single day  Here’s to another year of strength, community, and championing the voices that matter most 💚

Today is the day – it’s our Contact Awards 2025! 🎉 We’re so excited to be welcoming our finalists later today and can’t wait to celebrate everything they do for families with disabled children.  We will be posting our winners live this evening on Facebook & Instagram, so make sure to follow us 👀🤞

Watch our recent webinar looking at forthcoming cuts to the health element (also known as the limited capability for work and work-related activity element) of Universal Credit 👇

Watch our recent webinar looking at forthcoming cuts to the health element (also known as the limited capability for work and work-related activity element) of Universal Credit 👇

We are once again forced to correct the ill-informed comments of Richard Tice - this time resorting to conspiracy theories about VAT avoidance. Parent carers are not "gaming the system". They are trying to access the support their child is entitled to, to give them the best start in life.

The deadline for the home-to-school transport inquiry has been extended to the 28th November!  Find out more & submit your evidence here: https://f.mtr.cool/tecsawrhbm

Say hello to three of our inspiring Contact Award finalists: Louise Orange, Jeff & Chris Morton and Alma White. All incredibly worthy finalists 💚 You can read all about them here:

A wide-ranging review into paracetamol use by pregnant women has found NO convincing link between the common painkiller and the chances of children being diagnosed with autism and ADHD.

UK Parliament - School Transport! They want to hear from organisations and individuals – and it’s easy to do 📑 Find out more here: https://f.mtr.cool/vtuceigrsf

This December, a team of our amazing staff will be swapping their work clothes for Santa suits as they take part in Santa in the City, a festive fun run through central London.

Our FREE webinar on cuts to the Universal Credit health element is tomorrow! Book your free place here:

Over half of families referred for NHS funding that helps children who need help to breathe, eat, or manage pain, are denied. Parents are left doing complex nursing tasks alone, night after night. Sign the petition for change here:

Are you getting Universal Credit as a carer but also have health problems of your own? Find out about the new rules, join our webinar for parents, on 13th November 10 am -11.15am

It's nearly time for our annual online Rare Conditions Network event!  Join us on 11th November, from 10am. Get your tickets before they're gone 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rare-voices-together-tickets-1759471820579?aff=oddtdtcreator

We’re thrilled to announce the 18 incredible finalists in our Contact Awards, celebrating the countless things UK families do when caring for disabled children 💚

We have launched a new, dedicated advice flowchart aimed at simplifying the steps for families of disabled young people attempting to access their Child Trust Funds. Find it here 👇

New transport survey for 16-19 year olds has launched! 📝 Complete the survey here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/zioiykibzm Read more here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/zzekogukbq

As more festivals and holidays draw closer, many adult siblings tell us it’s hard to balance their own needs with the needs of their disabled brother or sister. Read our advice on coping with festivities here www.sibs.org.uk/festivities

Over half of families referred for NHS funding that helps children who need help to breathe, eat, or manage pain, are denied. Parents are left doing complex nursing tasks alone, night after night. Sign the petition for change here: https://f.mtr.cool/mnhkbtredw