Caudwell Children: Changing Lives, Changing Society, Changing Charity

The charity Caudwell Children aims to create a world where autistic and disabled children have the choice, opportunity, dignity and understanding they deserve.

Caudwell Children’s range of services for children and families are designed to remove some of the barriers that autistic and disabled children face, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Since being founded in 2000, Caudwell Children have been constantly evolving, providing a wide range of practical and emotional support services for children and young people aged up to twenty-four, and campaigning to create a more inclusive world for everyone. In 2019 they opened their purpose-built Caudwell International Children’s Centre.

Last year, Caudwell Children:

• Made 197 donations of mobility equipment.

• Provided 5,508 sensory packs.

• Completed 2,700 autism assessments and post-diagnosis support sessions.

• Made 61 donations of disability sports equipment.

• Supported 2,498 children on their short breaks.

• Completed 716 treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy sessions.

• Supported 24 young people on their employability programme.

• Completed 457 workshops.

Meet William

William, aged thirteen, has Bilateral Talipes and is autistic. Sharon, William’s mum, applied to Caudwell Children for funding towards a sports wheelchair which would allow him to participate in wheelchair rugby.

The difference receiving his new wheelchair has made to William's life is amazing. He’s had the opportunity to play in a cup final for his team, Sheffield Eagles. William also attended his team’s annual awards ceremony and won the Shooting Star award!

Sharon said: ‘We’re incredibly proud of William, but we are so thankful to Caudwell Children. A massive thank you once again.’

Meet Minnie

Minnie finds it difficult to communicate with her family and friends. She didn’t understand why she was different and why she felt the way she did, which made her feel upset and lonely.

Minnie’s mum, Amy, had tried to get help but felt like everyone dismissed her when she repeatedly raised her concerns. Eventually Amy found Caudwell Children and applied for an autism assessment at the Caudwell International Children’s Centre.

With an in-house multi-disciplinary team and an award-winning centre designed in direct consultation with autistic children, Caudwell Children provide comprehensive child-centred assessments and post diagnostic support.

Bringing a child for an assessment can be a daunting experience but the dedicated family support team and pre-visit planning helped Minnie and Amy feel at ease.

After visiting the centre, Amy commented: ‘For the first time I feel like I have been listened to as a parent. Minnie enjoyed her time at the centre and especially loved the sensory room with the lights and swing.’

Since attending for an assessment, Amy received a comprehensive report detailing Minnie’s strengths and challenges with practical advice alongside Minnie’s formal diagnosis.

Amy added: ‘Now I can explain to Minnie why she might think and feel things differently to her friends, this has given me the confidence to speak more openly about autism and how it affects us as a family.’

How can they help you?

Caudwell Children provides a wide range of core services, including family support, children’s mobility and sensory equipment, treatment and therapies, short breaks, workshops and more.

They also offer families charity funded and self-funded autism assessments by their in-house clinical team at their centre. The centre is a calm and safe space for children, with a mixture of quiet zones, specialist facilities, sensory rooms, and a garden, which allows their team to develop a comprehensive profile for each child during their assessment.

For more information about Caudwell Children’s services visit www.caudwellchildren.com