Latest News for Parents & Carers

Nearly a quarter of 16-year-old girls in England have been in contact with NHS mental health, autism and learning disability services in the past year. New figures show a large rise in the number of children and teenagers seeking help, with almost a million contacting the NHS. There has been a rise across all age groups, with almost a fifth more people needing support compared with three years ago.

In a parliamentary answer on 30 November, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride declined to give a “categorical assurance” that the means testing of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would not form part of the Chancellor’s 17 November Autumn Statement.

A blind woman has claimed she was forced to leave a Premier Inn hotel because staff did not believe that her golden retriever was a guide dog. Angharad Paget-Jones, 29, who was staying at the Premier Inn in Enfield on 5 November, said she was woken up by staff asking her to show proof her golden retriever, Tudor, was an assistance dog.

An army veteran set up a not-for-profit firm to make therapy equipment for disabled children after he was inspired by his granddaughter to start it. Mark Dickinson, from Wolverhampton, set up KatNat in 2020 and works out of his garden shed. He started things off by helping his four-year-old granddaughter Nathalene, who has cerebral palsy.

Grealish scored England’s sixth goal as they thrashed Iran 6-2 in their opening World Cup match in Doha, Qatar. The Manchester City forward had promised to do the special dance for 12-year-old Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, the next time he scored. Grealish said after the match: “Finlay, that was for you.”