Charities - disability support

Barnardo’s transforms the lives of the most vulnerable children through the work of our projects, campaigning and research expertise. As one of the UK’s leading children’s charities we work directly with over 200,000 children, young people and their families each year, running over 800 projects across the UK.

‘Knowledge is power’ is a well-known adage. It sums up the work of our charity, for the knowledge we help to acquire through research, and spread through teaching and publications, is a powerful way of preventing blindness. Scientific research has led to many breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions that cause blindness, but there is still a great deal we do not understand.

Calibre Audio Library is a subscription-free lending service that provides recorded books for people with visual impairment, dyslexia and other disabilities which prevent them reading print.

Chailey Heritage Foundation encompasses Chailey Heritage School, the Children’s Home and Futures@Chailey Heritage. The School provides education and care for 3-19 year olds, The Children’s Home provides residential accommodation for up to 365 days per year and Futures@Chailey Heritage is a transition service for young adults aged 19-25. All our children and young people have complex physical disabilities, communication, sensory and learning difficulties and health needs.

In the UK there are nine million deaf or hard of hearing people. Deafness is a devastating disability which has the power to make the simplest attempt to communicate a huge struggle. It isolates, brings intense frustration and creates barriers which can dramatically limit a deaf person’s quality of life.

Established in 1981 and registered as a charity in 1989.

1 person in 100 suffers with Epilepsy. It can affect family, friends, education, employment prospects and social activities. In many cases a driving licence has to be forfeited immediately. We are committed to giving free, practical and direct help to anyone affected by this sometimes devastating condition.

You never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child. Through the magic of sport, The Israel Sport Centre for the Disabled (ISCD) in Ramat Gan is inspiring hope and joy in thousands of children whose bodies have been shattered by serious illness or terrorist activity. Under the loving care of professional advisors and dedicated volunteers, self-confidence and courage is forged from sporting achievement and with it the chance to lead a useful and happy life.

Continue the fight against preventable blindness.

Over 600,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, but only half have been diagnosed; others are slowly losing their sight without even realising. Glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness; many people remain unaware of the risk of glaucoma, which can often have no symptoms. The damage done by glaucoma is permanent, but early detection and treatment can preserve sight.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) is a unique charity that aims to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of tall ship sailing. The charity owns and operates two magnificent tall ships – LORD NELSON and TENACIOUS. These beautiful ships are the only two in the world specifically designed and built to enable a crew of mixed physical abilities to sail side by side on equal terms.

Leonard Cheshire Disability is the leading charity supporting disabled people in the UK. Independence and choice are at the heart of everything we do. More than anything else, disabled people want to be active and independent, to make their own choices and take control of their lives. Our work is to help them to achieve that aim.

Linkage Community Trust is a national charity based in Lincolnshire, which delivers high - quality specialist education, care and employment support services to learning disabled people. Our 36-year history has established us as a major provider in delivering flexible services, which promote personal autonomy, independence and achievement.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of registered blindness in people over 55 in the western world. Over 500,000 people in the UK have late stage macular degeneration. Around 70,000 are newly diagnosed each year, and this figure looks set to grow as our population ages.

Mencap is the UK’s leading charity for people with a learning disability and their families and carers. We fight for equal rights, campaign for greater opportunities and challenge attitudes and prejudices. We provide services, advice and support to meet people’s needs and choices throughout their lives.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading charity for people with autism (including Asperger syndrome) and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a world where autism is understood and where everyone living with autism gets to lead the life they choose.

Being unable to access information is one of the biggest barriers to inclusion and independence identified by blind and partially sighted people – access that most people take for granted and yet is crucial to being part of society.

Our National Talking Newspaper and Magazine Service delivers over 250 publications in accessible formats to help people who can’t read print keep up to date with what’s going on in the world, whether it's serious current affairs or gossip and fashion.

Norwood is a leading UK Jewish charity supporting children, families and people with learning disabilities.

We achieve this by providing professional help in a warm and caring Jewish environment, supporting people to be as independent as possible.

We provide a wide range of Family Services and Learning Disability Services which help people to live the life they choose and reach their potential

Family Services
• Children and family support • Social work • Inclusive nursery • Adoption
• Special Educational Needs

Learning Disability Services

Established in 1957, Phab is a national charity committed to promoting and encouraging disabled and non-disabled children and adults to take part in a wide range of social and sports activities and to achieve complete inclusion within society as a whole.

We’re all about changing society for the better, so that disabled people and their families can have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Sunfield provides education and 52 week residential care for children between 6 and 19 years of age, from all over the U.K. who have complex learning needs.

Telephones for the Blind Fund exists to help to provide BT telephone service for those who are registered blind or partially sighted, live alone and are not able to meet the cost themselves.

We pay for the whole cost of telephone installation and a large proportion of the rental costs. We provide a vital lifeline for more than 300 blind people throughout the UK who are unfortunate enough to meet the three criteria. That lifeline to the outside world enables many of them to continue to live in their own homes. We support clients living in their own rooms in Care Homes and young families with blind parents.

Vista is a local charity dedicated to improving the lives of over 6,000 people, living with sight loss, across Leicestershire and Rutland. We do this by providing information and practical support, challenging barriers to inclusion and working to prevent avoidable sight loss.