Although the Government has eased restrictions and outlined plans for living with Covid, the pandemic is far from over for children with disabilities in our region, as more families, schools and other local organisations turn to us than ever before. We already know it can cost up to three times more to raise a child with disabilities or additional needs. Increased demand for limited services, cuts in benefits, soaring costs and barriers to work mean our families are already at a disadvantage. As a small charity, we have struggled to keep up with the continually increasing demands for equipment and family support services that we provide. In our February round alone, we experienced a 64% increase in applications from parents or carers compared to this time last year, this figure is set to rise.

Equipment that families could previously access through the NHS or social services is now no longer available to them and families are being asked to make these purchases themselves or turn to charities like ours. Items like specialist beds and adapted wheelchairs can run into the thousands and desperate parents are turning to us for help fund these expensive, but fundamental items.

TCSF was established in 1928 and for almost 100 years we have supported disadvantaged children and their families throughout the North East. When we were established, our purpose was to make family life easier and to help families create precious memories together. However we now find ourselves as the North East main provider for specialist, bespoke and adapted equipment for children with terminal illness and complex needs, regularly funding high value items such as powered wheelchairs because they cannot be sourced elsewhere. Our equipment rounds grow in size and value each quarter and as a small charity we are struggling to keep up with this increased demand.

We are proud that the services we provide alleviate strain on our already overwhelmed NHS and to work closely with a group of medical and social professionals who support our application process each quarter and help us ensure we provide the right equipment for the individual child based on prognosis, how the child will grow and what value to family life that equipment will provide.

We do not receive any statutory funding and so our team work tirelessly to raise every single penny to fund the equipment for our children and families. We know it's a hard time for many, but please if you're able, make a donation to support our Urgent Equipment Appeal today.