our all party parliamentary group
Working with Harry’s Pledge to push for mandatory emotional support for parent carers
The Reality for Parent Carers
41% of parent carers report experiencing suicidal thoughts
1 in 10 have attempted suicide
1 in 8 have made a suicide plan
These figures, from research led by Dr Siobhan O’Dwyer at the University of Birmingham, reflect the reality we see every day at Harry’s Pals.
Why We Exist
At Harry’s Pals, we support parents at the moment their lives change forever — when they are told their child has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.
In that moment, parents are expected to:
- Navigate complex healthcare systems
- Provide round-the-clock care
- Process overwhelming grief and uncertainty
- Stay strong for their child and family
Too often, they are expected to do all of this without emotional support.
We exist to ensure no parent has to face that moment alone.
Why Change Is Needed
Through our work with families, we see first-hand the gaps in support:
Emotional support is not routinely offered at diagnosis
Parents feel isolated at the most critical moment of their lives
There is no consistent national approach to emotional wellbeing
Families are left to cope until they reach crisis point. We need change.
Early emotional support is not a luxury — it is essential.
Voices from Harry’s Pals Families
These are the voices of parents we have supported at the point of diagnosis:
“You feel completely alone when you hear the words. Everything just stops.”
“We left the hospital with no emotional support — just fear and uncertainty.”
“I didn’t know how I was going to cope, but speaking to another parent who understood made all the difference.”
“Harry’s Pals was the first place where I felt heard, understood, and not alone.”
These experiences are why we do what we do — and why change is urgently needed.
Harry’s Pledge is a national campaign, founded by Harry’s Pals – working with Amplius and backed by over 100 organisations, calling for better support and recognition for carers.
At its heart is a simple but vital commitment:
Every parent should be offered emotional support as standard at the point of diagnosis
Driving Change in Parliament
To turn lived experience into lasting change, we are proud to support the creation of the:
APPG on Emotional Support for Parent Carers of Seriously Ill and Disabled Children
This cross-party group is working to:
- Ensure parent carers’ voices are heard at the highest level
- Influence policy and national practice
- Drive access to early emotional support
APPG Members:
Chair: Matt Bishop MP
Vice-Chair: Shockat Adam MP
Officers: Baroness Sue Gray and Stuart Andrew MP
Member: Alison Bennett MP
Harry’s Pals is honoured to act as the secretariat to the APPG, ensuring that the voices and experiences of families remain at the heart of its work.
Our Vision
We are working towards a future where:
Every parent receives immediate emotional support
No family faces this journey alone
Parent carers are recognised and valued
Early support prevents families from reaching crisis point
OUR ASK
Secure government funding to pilot a project supporting hundreds of families across the country with counselling or trauma therapy at point of diagnosis. Demonstrating the need and recording the outcomes – and ultimately SAVE LIVES
This is a public health issue
We see the impact every day. The statistics reflect real lives, real families, and real need.
Together, we can ensure that no parent carer is left without the emotional support they need at the most difficult time of their lives.
Stand with Harry’s Pals. Support families. Drive change.
