Charity awards 35 percent more disability equipment grants in 2023/24 compared to the year prior
Newlife The Charity for Disabled Children has changed its equipment service, as it aims to help more children receive the vital equipment families have told the charity they need the most.
A new focused range of disability equipment will provide specialist buggies, car seats, beds, and wheelchairs, all of which currently represent more than 85 percent of the grants Newlife has awarded to families over the past 12 months. This means the charity is no longer accepting new applications for equipment outside of these four categories.
Newlife is committed to helping disabled children and their families through funding vital equipment, often in urgent need.
As a national charity, Newlife has seen a significant increase in applications for its equipment services, awarding 35 percent more equipment grants in 2023/24 compared to the prior year.
Stephen Morgan, Newlife Director of Charitable Services, said: “After speaking to families with disabled children and professionals we believe that streamlining our equipment range to that which is most frequently needed, is the right course of action to take.
“The equipment we will provide will ensure children can sleep safely, can travel safely, can go to vital medical appointments, to school, college or university, give a family the independence to do the everyday things we all take for granted.”
Families with disabled children with any questions about the new focused service should contact the Newlife Nurse helpline on 0800 902 0095 or visit the Newlife website.
A report from Newlife painted a worrying picture that there are a growing number of disabled children being let down due to a lack of access to essential support and specialist assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs, buggies, and beds.