Charity which supports children with disabilities continue to grow

Breaking Barriers North West was founded in 2012 by the parents of three children with disabilities, who found specialist support in the community difficult to access.

Since then, the Bolton-based charity has grown to work with families across the region, and currently has a live database of over 2,500 families. Each week, it interacts with over 100.

Breaking Barriers North West works with children and young people across the whole spectrum of SEND up to the age of 25, and supports people with autism throughout their adult years.

As well as hosting specialist groups for children, and separate support sessions for parents, the charity delivers advice and signposting for each family’s unique needs. It holds holiday activities for children – with over 100 attending its recent summer programme – and also supports the transition of children from Y6 to Y7.

Additionally, it hosts events like its annual awards night, which rejects traditional awards in favour of recognising huge milestones for children who have overcome so much in their lives.

Steph Sherratt is the only founder to still be with the charity and manages jointly with fellow parent Laken Reid. Both of Steph’s children have autism, and she is committed to delivering bespoke support to as many families as possible across the North West.

“We are very much children and young people centred and are led by them, but we recognise the need to support whole family. We know first-hand what it’s like to have children with disabilities, and believe we know what support is needed and how it is best delivered,” says Steph, CEO at the charity.

“Over the years I have listened to so many professionals telling me what to do and giving me advice, but really I’d rather ask another parent. As parents, you understand in ways no one else can. We are committed to changing perceptions of our children, and while we are very aware of the challenges that exist, that makes it even more important to celebrate the successes.

“We have grown as a charity significantly, and offer a range of groups and support to families, there is so much more we’d love to do, but like all charities at the minute, funding is so difficult to find. Every single penny makes a difference to us.”

This year, the CIC attached to the charity also invested in a caravan, sited near Preston, to allow families to enjoy short breaks together. While it was in operation from May to September this year, next year it will be available continuously.

“For a lot of families who have disabled children, they don’t get to go on holiday at all, so this was created with them in mind. We can make it totally bespoke to them – if they want a cinema room, we can create that, if they want a sensory room we can change things to make that. It can be just how they want. We are looking forward to being able to offer many more breaks next year,” says Steph.

Breaking Barriers North West has secured Slater and Gordon as a corporate partner. As well as fundraising for the charity, the law firm will hold free legal clinics for families, to support them with a wide range of legal services and help them understand their legal rights.

Ben Gent, Head of Clinical Negligence in Manchester at Slater and Gordon, says: “Breaking Barriers North West has really lived up to its name over the past 13 years, working with growing numbers of families to deliver the kind of personal support they struggle to find elsewhere. Steph and her team understand the challenges these families face as they live it themselves, and that really is invaluable to parents of children with disabilities.

“We are really pleased to be working with this brilliant charity, and to supporting its ongoing ambitions. Working with the team and its families, we will be on-hand to deliver bespoke advice on a range of legal matters, from clinical negligence through to serious injury, as well as employment and family law. Understanding your legal rights is massively empowering, and we will be there for any family at Breaking Barriers North West who needs us.”