A charity that supports families with disabled children is celebrating 30 years helping struggling parents in Ealing.

Over 270 local parents and children will join in the celebrations on August 15, at Featherstone Sports Centre, as Contact a Family mark an impressive 30 years of helping families with disabled children in Ealing and Southall.

Over the last three decades, Contact a Family  - the only UK charity that supports families with disabled children regardless of their disability or medical condition - has helped literally thousands of families with disabled children in the borough by providing much needed advice, information and support.

Asha Yadav, Contact a Family’s Ealing and Southall Manager says: “This is an incredible milestone for us and it’s fantastic that so many families, funders, partnering agencies and supporters are coming to celebrate.

“Over the last thirty years we’ve helped many families with disabled children have a say in how local services are developed and delivered. We also offer practical help and support for people dealing with the benefits system, social services, education for their disabled child and organise much needed fun events and activities during the school holidays. We are looking forward to the next 30 years!”

Mariam Razzaq from Southall has two disabled children and says: “I approached Contact a Family in Ealing in 2002 where I found out lots of things about benefits and grants that no one had ever told me about before. With Contact a Family I didn’t have to jump through hoops to find information or to get things done. The staff here are always willing to help.

“If I hadn’t found Contact a Family, I think I would have been quite depressed and lonely. As well as supporting me with the practical side of raising disabled children, the charity also gave me the opportunity to meet other parents who are facing similar problems and this stopped me feeling so isolated. Contact a Family helped me to get financial support to have days out for the first time with my children.  I had never been out with my children before to have fun because I couldn’t afford it and I didn’t have the confidence to do it.”

For further information about Contact a Family please visit www.cafamily.org.uk