Thank you to our supporters – from our Chief Executive

As we draw nearer to the festive break, our Chief Executive, Cheryl Ward, shares a thank you to all our supporters over the past year.

Thank you cards arranged on white shelves. In the background, a woman works on a laptop

As 2023 draws to a close, I want to take a moment on behalf of everyone at Family Fund to express thanks and gratitude to all our valued supporters.

Whether you’ve collaborated with us to assist families in obtaining grants, raised awareness about our information services, made donations, shared your personal stories, or supported our nationwide events, you’ve helped us to make a significant impact throughout the year!

2023 has been particularly challenging for many families, especially those living on a low income raising disabled or seriously ill children. Rising food prices, soaring energy bills, and the demands of caring responsibilities have made it very difficult for families to provide even the most basic necessities. Over the past twelve months, we’ve witnessed a substantial increase in need for our grants, with many more families applying for assistance for the very first time.

Reflecting on the year, I am filled with immense pride in what we have accomplished. In addition to delivering a comprehensive range of grant programmes which has provided practical and much needed support to tens of thousands of families, we also expanded our services, workshops and e-learning courses, with the annual Discover Digital Summer Festival being a standout highlight.

You celebrated our 50th with us

2023 also marked our 50th anniversary, and we celebrated this significant milestone with various activities, including a Golden Gala event, Parliamentary receptions, various fundraising initiatives, and the recent Window to Our World photo project. We also published a book ‘50 Years of Family Voices’ written by former Trustee and long-time supporter Dr Chris Hanvey which highlights the ever-growing need of families, showcasing how Family Fund has adapted over the years.

Throughout the year, we’ve made numerous improvements across our organisation, including the launch of a more accessible website. Also, due to enhancements in our grant processes, most families now receive a grant decision in just a few weeks.

We’ve also continued to collaborate with various partners to provide grants and raise essential public awareness about the realities of life for families facing both the highs and lows. I encourage you to check out our latest campaign with McCain, featuring Alex Brooker.

Our colleagues in our wholly owned trading subsidiary and social enterprise, Family Fund Business Services continue to deliver for a growing number of clients and continue to support our work in the charity. Indeed, 2023 marked 10 years of Family Fund Business Services and I am proud of the organisation that it has become and the difference their work makes to their clients and the millions of households that they support.

As we look ahead to the coming year, we are acutely aware that the challenges faced by the families we support are ever-changing. Nevertheless, with the same determination that has carried us through the past five decades, our team will confront these challenges head-on driven by the difference that we can make to disabled children, young people, and their families and I thank them all for their support, passion and determination. We will continue to work hard to adapt and expand our support, ensuring that we do even more to help families in need.

Once again, thank you for your incredible support, which will enable us to ‘be there for families raising disabled or seriously ill children’ in 2024 and beyond, ensuring that they can enjoy the same opportunities as any other family.