Thank you to our supporters – from the 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.

Everybody who knows me knows how much I love the holiday season. To me, it means spending some quality time with family and friends, taking time to recharge and reflect on the year that has gone by and the one that is soon to arrive.

This past year: has been incredibly challenging for many, but more so for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children.

Cost of Living challenges

Whilst the coronavirus pandemic is still having a disproportionate and negative effect on everyday lives, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting families with disabled children hard, who already face three times higher costs for their children’s essentials. The findings from our Cost of Caring research report, highlight that many families are struggling to survive.

This means the support we provide to families has never been as important as it is today. Since April we have supported 60,387 families raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child or young person with 106,616 grants and services.

There are, of course, more families that need our support and we continue to do our utmost to provide help where it is most needed.

We simply could not provide this support without our funding partners, suppliers and the general public – so a heartfelt thank you to all of you.

Highlights of 2022

Despite the challenges of the year, there have also been many highlights. Through our partnership with McCain, we launched a podcast series and new primetime TV adverts shining a light on, and sharing the voices of, the children and families that we support on a national stage.

With the support of a collaboration of funders we have been able to extend our help to young people aged 18-24 years, through our Your Opportunity scheme; providing much-needed grant support to disabled young adults.

We were also pleased to celebrate three successful supported interns through our partnership with the Blueberry Academy, which enables us to provide work experiences for young disabled people here in our home city of York, and welcomed three new young people in September.

The coming year will continue to present stark challenges for many people, and we will work closely with our funding partners and sector colleagues to provide more support to families raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child and ease daily pressures.

Whether it’s a donation for essential grants and services or a follow, or share, on our social media channels, we can all make a difference.

Finally, I hope that you, and your loved ones, have a wonderful festive season with family at the heart of your celebrations, wherever you are.

With very best wishes and further thanks for your incredible support.

~ Cheryl Ward, Chief Executive of Family Fund