Caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, severe disability or complex health needs can bring many practical questions alongside the emotional pressures of caring.
At Harry’s Pals, we provide emotional support, counselling and wellbeing support to parents and carers. We also know that families may need help in many other areas of life — from financial support and specialist equipment to SEND advice, respite, sibling support and help following a cancer diagnosis.
This page brings together organisations and services that may be able to help.
Before you start
The information on this page is intended as a starting point.
Eligibility, geographical coverage, funding and services can change, so please contact the organisation directly to check whether its support is suitable for your family.
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Money, Benefits & Financial Support
Caring for a disabled or seriously ill child can bring additional costs and may affect a family’s ability to work. Depending on your circumstances, help may be available through benefits, grants and other financial support.
Carers UK
Information, advice and support for unpaid carers, including help understanding benefits, finances, employment and carers’ rights.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent information and advice on benefits, debt, housing, employment and people’s rights.
Turn2us
Provides information about benefits and financial support. Its Grants Search can help families identify charitable grants they may be eligible for.
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Grants & Financial Help
Charitable grants can sometimes help with costs that cannot be met through household income or statutory services. Depending on eligibility, funding may be available for household essentials, equipment, travel, family breaks and other costs associated with a child’s disability or serious illness.
Boparan Charitable Trust
Provides grants for children and young people affected by disability, life-limiting conditions or extreme poverty, including help towards specialist equipment and essential items.
Cash for Kids
Supports children and young people affected by poverty, illness, neglect or additional needs.
The Charlie & Carter Foundation
Provides financial support to eligible parents of seriously ill children with life-limiting conditions.
Caudwell Children
Provides practical and personalised support for disabled and neurodivergent children and their families.
Family Fund
Provides grants and services to eligible families on a low income who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person.
Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund
Provides financial, emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer, including respite breaks.
Motability Foundation
Provides grants and other support to help eligible disabled people access transport and mobility.
My Shining Star
Provides financial assistance to eligible families affected by childhood cancer.
Young Lives vs Cancer
Supports children and young people aged 0–24 with cancer and their families through specialist social workers, financial help, accommodation and emotional and practical support.
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Fundraising
Some families choose to fundraise when a significant cost cannot be fully covered through statutory services or charitable grants.
Tree of Hope
Helps families fundraise towards medical treatment, therapies, equipment and healthcare services that may not be freely available through the NHS or social care.
Home Adaptations
Home adaptations can make everyday life safer and more manageable. An occupational therapy assessment through your local authority or health service can often be a useful starting point.
Disabled Facilities Grant – GOV.UK
Government information about grants available through councils to help eligible disabled people make necessary changes to their homes.
Sullivan’s Heroes
Provides fundraising support specifically for essential home adaptations for disabled children.
WellChild
Supports seriously ill children with complex medical needs to be cared for at home wherever possible through nursing support, training, information and family programmes.
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Specialist Equipment, Mobility & Communication
Some specialist equipment may be available through the NHS, education or social care. Charities can sometimes help when statutory provision is unavailable or does not meet a child’s needs.
AFK
Supports disabled and neurodivergent children and young people through mobility equipment and programmes promoting independence and employment.
Children Today
Provides specialised equipment to disabled children and young people up to the age of 25.
Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children
Provides specialist equipment services for disabled and terminally ill children, including equipment grants and loans.
Cerebra – Bugzi
Bugzi is a small powered indoor wheelchair designed to give young disabled children the opportunity to experience independent mobility.
REACT
Supports children with life-shortening illnesses in financially disadvantaged households through specialist equipment, respite and other practical assistance.
Whizz Kidz
Supports young wheelchair users with mobility equipment and opportunities to develop confidence, skills and independence.
Strongbones Children’s Charitable Trust
Provides equipment, financial assistance and respite support for eligible children and families.
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SEND, Disability & Parent-Carer Support
Navigating SEND, education, health and social care can be complicated. These organisations provide information, peer support, practical assistance or opportunities for families to influence local services.
Contact
Provides information and advice for families with disabled children and helps connect families with others who understand their experiences.
Sense
Supports disabled people with complex needs and their families through specialist services, information, communication support, activities and other practical help.
Cerebra
Supports children with brain conditions and their families through information and advice, sleep support, help understanding legal and social-care rights, a library and practical resources.
Together for Short Lives
Provides information and support for families of children with life-limiting conditions, including support around end-of-life care and bereavement.
Council for Disabled Children
The national umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector, providing information and resources relating to SEND, inclusion and disabled children’s rights.
My Family, Our Needs
Provides practical information and resources for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs and SEND. My Family Our Needs
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Condition-Specific Support
FOP Friends
The UK charity dedicated to supporting people living with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) and their families. It provides information and support and raises funds for research into treatment and a cure. fopfriends.com
Child Brain Injury Trust
Supports children, young people and families affected by acquired brain injury through information, practical and emotional support and help navigating education and family life.
Together for Short Lives
Supports children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families through information, practical and financial guidance, emotional support and help finding children’s palliative care services.
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity
Provides practical and emotional support to families caring for a seriously ill child. Family Support Workers can support parents, children and siblings at home, in hospital and in the community.
Samuel’s Charity
Supports seriously and terminally ill children in hospital or receiving medical care through practical assistance, items and equipment, as well as support for families, carers and medical staff. Register of Charities
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Birth Trauma & Neonatal Support
A difficult pregnancy, traumatic birth or neonatal stay can have a lasting emotional impact on parents and families.
The Birth Trauma Association
Provides information and peer support for women, partners and families psychologically affected by traumatic birth and works to improve awareness and understanding of birth trauma.
Bliss
Supports families of babies born premature or sick, providing information and emotional and practical support throughout their neonatal journey and beyond.
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Childhood Cancer Support
A childhood cancer diagnosis affects the whole family. These organisations provide different forms of specialist, emotional, practical, financial and research support.
Young Lives vs Cancer
Provides specialist social workers, financial assistance, accommodation and emotional and practical support to children and young people with cancer and their families.
Children with Cancer UK
Funds research into childhood and young people’s cancers and provides support and opportunities for affected children and families.
Teenage Cancer Trust
Provides specialist nursing, youth support and dedicated cancer services for young people aged 13–24.
Solving Kids’ Cancer UK
Supports families affected by neuroblastoma, provides a professional family-support service, funds research and campaigns to improve outcomes for children. solvingkidscancer.org.uk
Mitchell’s Miracles
Supports families affected by neuroblastoma through emotional and financial assistance and raises awareness of the condition.
Abbie’s Army
Supports families affected by DIPG/DMG childhood brain cancer, funds research and provides information and support.
The Bradley Lowery Foundation
Supports families fundraising for treatment and equipment, funds childhood cancer research and provides additional family support. Bradley Lowery Foundation
Be More Fab Children’s Cancer Charity
Supports children, families and schools affected by cancer. Its work includes tuition for children absent from school during treatment, school support, family support and childhood cancer awareness. Be More Fab
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Sibling & Young Carer Support
Brothers and sisters of seriously ill or disabled children can have their own emotional and practical needs.
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity
Family Support Workers can provide one-to-one sibling support as well as sibling groups and activities.
Sibs
Provides information, advice and support for children and adults who have a disabled brother or sister.
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Bereavement Support
The death of a child, parent, sibling or another important person can affect every member of a family differently. Specialist organisations can provide emotional support, practical help, peer support and opportunities to remember someone who has died.
Harry’s Rainbow
Supports bereaved children, young people and families, particularly in Milton Keynes. Support includes groups, therapeutic mentoring, memory boxes and books, activities, trips and short breaks. Harry’s Rainbow –
Child Bereavement UK
Supports children and young people when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and supports families following the death of a baby or child.
The Child Death Helpline
Provides emotional support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age.
The Compassionate Friends
Provides peer support to bereaved parents, adult siblings and grandparents following the death of a child, sibling or grandchild.
Donna’s Dream House
Provides free holiday experiences and support for eligible families, including bereaved families.
The Oliver Curd Trust
Provides holiday accommodation for families affected by childhood cancer and other life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, including families experiencing bereavement.
Sands
Supports anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, including parents, siblings, grandparents and friends.
Winston’s Wish
Provides bereavement support and information for children and young people following the death of someone important to them.
Young Lives vs Cancer
Provides ongoing practical and emotional support to families affected by childhood and young adult cancer, including support following bereavement.
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Short Breaks, Respite & Special Experiences
Short breaks can give disabled and seriously ill children opportunities for activities and new experiences while giving parents and carers time away from their caring responsibilities.
The 3H Foundation
Helps people with disabilities and their carers on a low income organise breaks in the UK.
Carefree
Helps eligible unpaid carers access short hotel breaks.
Children with Cancer UK
Supports children and families affected by cancer, including opportunities for days out and experiences away from hospital.
Donna’s Dream House
Provides free holiday experiences for eligible children and teenagers with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Dreams Come True
Fulfils dreams for children and young adults living with serious and life-limiting conditions.
Family Fund
Provides grants and services for eligible families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person.
Hallie’s Hideaway
Provides a holiday home for eligible families caring for a child with a life-threatening, life-limiting or terminal illness.
Kids Cancer Charity
Supports children affected by cancer and their families, including through care breaks.
Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund
Supports families affected by childhood cancer, including through free respite breaks.
The Oliver Curd Trust
Provides holiday accommodation for eligible families affected by childhood cancer and other life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.
REACT
Provides equipment, practical support and respite for children with life-shortening illnesses in financially disadvantaged households.
Sebastian’s Action Trust
Supports seriously ill children and their families, including through respite and family breaks.
Strongbones Children’s Charitable Trust
Provides equipment, financial assistance and respite support for eligible children and families.
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A Final Note from Harry’s Pals
There is a lot of information on this page, and you do not need to explore every organisation.
Different services will be helpful to different families and at different stages. We hope this directory gives you somewhere to start and makes it a little easier to find the support that is right for you.
If you are looking for emotional support, counselling or wellbeing support as the parent or carer of a seriously ill or disabled child, Harry’s Pals is here for you.
Please remember: organisations can change their services, eligibility criteria, geographical coverage and funding arrangements. Always check the organisation’s website directly for the latest information before applying or making decisions based on the information on this page.