'FANTASTIC & VITAL'
The Sun’s Give It Back campaign praised by MPs, charities and families for demanding the most vulnerable children in the UK get the support they deserve
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SCOPE, The Children's Trust and MP Christine Jardine are just a few of the people who have praised The Sun’s Give It Back campaign.
We are calling for the Government to reinstate the £434 million of funding it has cut from families with disabled children to help them access vital services such as respite care and essential equipment.
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The number of disabled children in the UK has risen to nearly 1 million over the past 10 years - up by a third.
But the lack of support means even their basic care can feel like an impossible challenge for their families, and many are missing out on simple things like wheelchairs and schooling.
Together with the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP), we are asking calling on the Chancellor to make more support available, with a host of charities praising our effort.
“It’s fantastic that The Sun has backed this vital campaign,” Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive at disability equality charity Scope, says.
“All parents have hopes, dreams, and aspirations and want the best for their children. Parents of disabled children are no different.
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“At Scope we know parents of disabled children are being let down by a support system that isn’t working properly. Our research shows that 87% of parents have felt judged by others, and 41% were offered no emotional support.
“Too often they are told what their child can’t do, and how difficult life will be.
“We need to make sure disabled children and their families get the support they need from Government.”
His sentiment was back by Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield OBE, who said: "Far too often I hear of families desperately fighting for help for their child, when the funds and the help should already be there for them.
"I hope The Sun’s campaign will not only highlight the struggle too many families with disabled children are facing, but also put pressure on the Government to do the right thing and to provide the money and support these very vulnerable kids need.”
We have already told the story of Ollie, a seven-year-old boy who has a rare condition which means he can stop breathing at any moment.
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GIVE IT BACK
Why we demand the Government helps families with disabled kids:
Disabled children and their families are desperately struggling because of a lack of support.
We want the Government to reinstate the £434m of funding it has cut from early intervention services - such as respite care and vital equipment.
It is time for the Government to Give It Back.
The number of disabled children in the UK has risen to nearly 1 million over the past 10 years - up by a third.
But funding and support has been cut.
Families with some of the most vulnerable children in the country are struggling to cope.
That’s why we’re working with the Disabled Children’s Partnership to help them.
Together we can make a real difference and hugely improve the lives of disabled children and their families.
We want you to share your stories, email us on [email protected]
Please to put pressure on the Government to act now.
His family receive no respite care as his needs are deemed too complex, and they were even left waiting for a wheelchair that would fit him.
His mum Vickey has written the open letter to the Government which , and she has high hopes for the campaign.
“I've had such positive feedback from my friends who have children with special needs,” she says.
"I think The Sun have covered the issue brilliantly and I'm so please that someone has taken up this problem and reported on it properly."
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive of charity Sense, which works with people with complex disabilities also backed the campaign, pointing out how grave the funding shortage is.
“The services, which should be providing support to families to keep their children safe, free from pain and able to attend school, have been devastated by funding cuts,” he said.
Is your family affected by the cuts to funding? Tell us your story. Email: [email protected]
“The DCP found that disabled children are missing out on around £1.2 million of support every day.
“This lack of support is putting overwhelming pressure on disabled children and their families.
“We need government to urgently address this issue or it will just continue to be a never ending cycle of disadvantage for families with disabled children.
“This is not about asking for disabled children to be singled out or treated differently. This is asking for fairness.”
Charities, MPs and families support The Sun's Give It Back campaign
HERE'S what they had to say:
Anne Longfield OBE, Children’s Commissioner for England:
"I hope The Sun’s campaign will not only highlight the struggle too many families with disabled children are facing, but also put pressure on the Government to do the right thing and to provide the money and support these very vulnerable kids need."
Dalton Leong, Chief Executive of The Children's Trust
"We are extremely grateful to The Sun readers who are playing a key role in ensuring the government prioritise families of disabled children."
Mrs Sheila Brown, OBE, CEO of Newlife, the Charity for Disabled Children
"As we can see from the Give It Back campaign, disabled children are left to suffer avoidable pain because they are refused the specialist equipment and support they desperately need.
"That’s why it’s so important that people get behind the Sun and DCP’s #GiveItBack campaign"
Andy Fletcher, CEO of Together for Short Lives
"A huge thank you to Sun readers for adding your voice to this campaign and speaking up for vulnerable children and families who are missing out on crucial care and support."
Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Scope
"It’s fantastic that The Sun has backed this vital campaign.
“All parents have hopes, dreams, and aspirations, and want the best for their children. Parents of disabled children are no different."
Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of WellChild
"Many families with disabled children are facing a desperate situation and cannot afford to have basic services taken away from them by the Government.
"The support of The Sun and its army of readers will help us in our battle to get a fair deal for these families."
MP Christine Jardine
"More than half of parents with disabled children suffer depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts because of the lack of support.
"I'm supporting the call to put the £434m shortfall back into social care."
Vickey, mum of Ollie
"I've had such positive feedback from my friends who have children with special needs.
"I think The Sun have covered the issue brilliantly and I'm so please that someone has taken up this problem and reported on it properly."
Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine tweeted her support for Give It Back, saying it’s vital the funding shortfall is addressed by Government.
“More than half of parents with disabled children suffer depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts because of the lack of support,” she added.
All this week we will be sharing stories of families who are struggling with even the most basic things because of funding cuts.
Kids like Harry, who has autism and chronic fatigue syndrome meaning he is physically unable to get to class - yet he has been denied a home tutor.
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The 13-year-old is so worried about whether he’ll manage to get any qualifications he is depressed, and his mum Tracy hopes Give It Back will highlight the situation she, and many others, are facing.
"This campaign can transform the lives of nearly a million families with disabled children,” she said.
“Thanks so much to the Sun for bringing our stories to light."
It’s a sentiment which Dr Hilary Cross, OBE, agrees with.
She is the chair of the British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD) and believes The Sun’s Give It Back campaign is the one families like Harry and Ollie’s have been waiting for.
“Every professional working in the field of childhood disability will be grateful to The Sun for launching the Give it Back campaign,” she says.
Charities, MPs and families support The Sun's Give It Back campaign
HERE'S what they had to say:
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive of Sense
"This lack of support is putting overwhelming pressure on disabled children and their families.
“We need government to urgently address this issue or it will just continue to be a never ending cycle of disadvantage for families with disabled children."
Jane Harris, Director of External Affairs at the National Autistic Society
"We want as many people as possible to sign the open letter calling on the Government to give back the millions that have been cut from support for disabled children. Thanks to The Sun and The Sun readers for getting behind this important campaign.”
Dr Hilary Cass OBE, Chair of BACD
"Every professional working in the field of childhood disability will be grateful to The Sun for launching the Give it Back campaign."
Naseem Waker, mum of Leila, seven
"The Give It Back campaign shows the stark reality of a very complex situation. I am delighted a paper with the clout of The Sun has taken up the cause."
Dan White, writer and broadcaster, dad of Emily, 12
"It’s 2019 and parents and children in our community are like ghosts to society. We live amongst you, breathe your air, look at the same stars, but you do not know us.
"Today, you must finally make the country aware."
Tracy Williams, mum of Harry
"This campaign can transform the lives of nearly a million families with disabled children. Thanks so much to the Sun for bringing our stories to light."
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“Funding cuts to disabled children’s care services is having a on knock on effect to children's basic health and development not to mention the physiological impact on the wider family.
“The care that parents like Vickey provide day in day out is invaluable – but they can only care for their children safely at home if the right care services are in place and available.
“Sun readers who get behind the Give it Back campaign will be directly contributing the future of the NHS by stopping families with disabled children up and down the country going into crisis.”
WHERE TO GET HELP
, 0808 808 3555
(IPSEA) - for specialist legal advice
- a charity that provides help with equipment
- to understand your child's entitlements
- great advice for brothers and sisters of a disabled child
Charity Give It Back campaign calls for more funding for families with disabled kids
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