Disabled children’s charity calls for further cost-of-living support

Cheryl Ward, Family Fund Chief Executive, said: “We know that current severe inflationary pressures are affecting millions of people across the land, but for families caring for disabled and seriously ill children, who have even greater costs, the outlook is very grave. The choices between putting food on the table, paying for energy or clothing and sensory equipment are stark”.

As the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families with disabled or seriously ill children and young people, we acknowledge that the much-needed Government cash will go some way to ease the burden of bills, as the cost of living soars, but that more support will be needed in the coming months.

We provide essential items for families on the lowest incomes, including kitchen appliances, clothing, bedding, play equipment and much-needed family breaks.

Parents and carers raising a disabled or seriously child can face costs some three times higher than for other families. A grant from the charity can make all the difference for parents; helping to relieve their everyday stresses by providing essentials needed to care for their children.

“We very much welcome this latest £150 payment from Government”, said Cheryl Ward, “but we know from the increasing calls we are now getting from our families, facing spiralling costs on every front, that more support will be needed. We are therefore, along with other charities, asking ministers to consider urgently how future support can be given.”

In recent research, three quarters of families supported by Family Fund say their financial situation has worsened significantly since the pandemic.

Even before tomorrow’s Energy Price Cap uplift, two thirds of families with disabled children are struggling to pay energy bills and nearly one quarter say they are already falling behind with bills.

The cost of living crisis is, therefore, hitting many who are already in an extremely financially vulnerable position

Information and support

Are you a family raising a disabled child struggling with paying bills? You can find support on our ‘help with finances’ page: