Contact

Life with a disabled child brings unique challenges, and Contact exists to help families feel valued, supported, confident and informed. As a campaigning organisation, the charity influences policy so politicians and decision-makers tackle the inequalities faced by families with disabled children. And for families, the charity supports people with the best possible guidance and information.

Contact helps families to campaign, volunteer, fundraise and shape local services to improve life for themselves and others. It connects them in local groups and online to support each other by sharing experiences and advice.

The London-based charity, a first-timer on the Best Companies list, has more than 40 years' experience in helping children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and runs a free helpline for parents and carers with a disabled child aged from birth to 25, living in any part of the UK. The child does not need a diagnosis for a parent or carer to call the helpline.

The organisation's By Your Side advisers guide parents through the maze of medical departments and jargon they face in hospitals and other health settings. The charity also provides professional development training, consultancy, training for parent forums and support groups, and co-production training. It can deliver its popular family workshops, virtually or face-to-face.

Senior managers indentified staff wellbeing as the top priority at the start of the Covid-19 crisis. Methods to boost people's safety included setting up a Service Development Group so frontline colleagues could share experiences, with evidence collated in monthly briefings.