Sullivan’s Heroes is a charity offering support and financial assistance for families raising essential funds for vital home adaptations for a disabled child, to continue to care for their child at home, safely and with dignity.

Sullivan’s Heroes are supporting our fundraising attempt to raise sufficient funds to adapt our garage and the space immediately outside into a Safe Space for Henry.

Henry is 11 years old and he is autistic and has ADHD. Henry is a lovely, funny and energetic boy and he’s great fun to have around. But, Henry’s presentation of autism and ADHD means that he has high care needs and can sometimes become dysregulated and needs an immediate safe space, where he can feel safe and/or use a range of sensory equipment to help him feel calm and safe again.

Henry was unable to cope in school due to his high levels of anxiety and a threat radar that perceives threats wherever he goes. Henry is currently in education other than at a school but he hopes to join an autistic specialist school soon.

We have secured a Disabled Facilities Grant (Dfg) from West Sussex Council. This is a grant that has often been used to support children with physical disabilities but rarely for children with Neurodevelopmental conditions. It was not easy to secure this grant and we presented a great deal of evidence demonstrating Henry’s challenges. The funding for the DFG rarely covers the full cost of the adaptation but it goes a long way towards getting there.

Our home is not big and when Henry is upset it is difficult to find space for him to use for regulation and the equipment needed is expensive.

Our plan is to convert our garage into a safe space with immediate access from the living area of the house and this area will contain storage and all of the equipment he needs. Sliding glass doors at the back will provide natural light and direct access to a widened patio area and artificial grass to provide a surface Henry can play on all year round.

Thank you for visiting our page. We are aiming to raise funds through a variety of charities and fundraising events. If you have any ideas or would like to help us raise funds, please get in touch with us or Sullivans Heroes.