Contact is a UK charity for families with disabled children. It offers support, brings families together, and provides advice on issues including education, benefits, finances, childcare, social care and medical information.
It may be a helpful resource for clergy households where a child or young person has a disability or additional need, and parents or carers need practical guidance, reassurance or help navigating support. Contact can help families understand diagnosis pathways, access reliable medical information, find condition-specific support, and explore help from local authorities and other services.
Alongside its information resources, Contact runs a free helpline for parents and carers of disabled children in the UK. It also offers a Listening Ear telephone service for emotional support, as well as online communities, workshops and events.
What support does Contact offer?
Contact offers advice, information and support on a wide range of issues affecting families with disabled children. This includes getting a diagnosis, understanding medical information, accessing benefits and financial help, childcare, education, social care and other practical support. Its helpline can also signpost families to condition support groups and relevant services.
Who is it for?
Contact says its helpline is for parents and carers anywhere in the UK with a disabled child aged from birth to 25. Families do not need to have a diagnosis in place before seeking help.
How might it help?
It may be helpful if you are trying to understand your child’s needs, access medical help, make sense of support systems, or find practical advice as a parent carer. It may also be useful if you would benefit from emotional support or from speaking to people who understand the realities of caring for a disabled child.