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A MINISTER has backed The Sun’s campaign to see families with disabled kids supported after the government slashed their funding.
Conservative politician Margot James, the minister for Digital and Creative Industries, has written a public letter of support to Nadhim Zahawi, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and families.
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In the letter the Stourbridge MP wrote: “I have been contacted by the Disabled Children’s Partnership who commissioned independent research earlier this year.
“The results found that parents struggle to get the support to which they are entitled, and that 53 per cent of parents were forced to give up work in order to care for their disabled child full time.”
She also referenced the Give It Back campaign which has been supported by the DCP and the British Academy of Childhood disability.
The campaign is calling for the Government to reinstate the £434 million of funding it has cut from these families – for services such as respite care and vital equipment.
WHY ‘GIVE IT BACK’ NEEDS YOUR HELP
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 funded support means even the smallest of care tasks can feel like an impossible challenge for families and can lead to kids missing out on schooling.
Ms James called in the letter for case to be made to HMT to find the funding required and for a spending review.
Sun readers can join the campaign by signing our letter – written by Vickey Kowal, the mum of a disabled child – to put pressure on the government to reinstate the funding.
“Families with disabled children up and down the country are feeling unable to care for their child safely because they are so exhausted and frustrated at being let down by a system that is meant to take care of them,” says Amanda Batten, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership.
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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 giveitback@the-sun.co.uk
Please sign Ollie’s letter to put pressure on the Government to act now.
