03 January 2021
Returning to Fundraising
In March 2020, we ceased all our face-to-face fundraising in residential and retail locations, in line with the requirements of lockdown surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and to protect both our fundraisers and the public. The likelihood is that if you are a current Childlife supporter, it’s because you spoke...
15 December 2020
Maia’s microtia
As part of Treacher Collins Syndrome, Maia has bilateral microtia atresia. This means both of her ears are underdeveloped, with no ear canal openings, and this contributes to her conductive hearing loss. Mum, Josie, explains some of the problems that this can cause teenager Maia, in daily life. “A...
17 November 2020
Mental health of under-5s at risk
The UK lockdown and subsequent changes to our daily lives have brought with them a heightened awareness and discussion of our mental health. Young and old have experienced unprecedented challenges, with regular social contact impacted and face-to-face support services suspended, and infant mental health is no exception. As lockdown...
17 November 2020
The challenges of lockdown
Kieran, has faced the challenges of lockdown head-on, with Mum Leeann doing her best to keep up with him! Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) means that Kieran’s coordination, balance and strength is compromised, so deciding to embark on a fundraising cycle ride of 70km in a month was quite a challenge...
17 November 2020
Critical support in isolation
For a family with a very unwell child, the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown up even more challenges, in addition to those they already face. We spoke with Faye, Mum to five-year-old Luca who has CHARGE syndrome, a life threatening condition which means even the slightest infection can be dangerous...
17 November 2020
Virtual support for deaf children
Supporting a deaf child and their family will often involve a face-to-face support session, meetings with a Teacher of the Deaf and getting together with other families in the same situation to share experiences. The COVID-19 lockdown meant all of these services were put on hold, further increasing the...
17 November 2020
The challenges of 2020
Earlier in the year, we wrote about the National Deaf Children’s Society’s support groups, organised by volunteers across the UK, like Sara who runs Sound Friends in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Sara’s youngest child, six-year-old Charlotte, is profoundly deaf and is aided by a cochlear implant and uses a...
28 July 2020
Supporting deaf children during Covid-19
Lockdown may be easing across the UK, but there are still many face-to-face support services which are unable to take place. Families with a child recently diagnosed as deaf need a lot of support, especially in those early days, and usually this might involve home visits to get practical...
21 July 2020
Fantastic feedback for our fundraisers
At the beginning of July we felt the time was right to make a cautious return to our face-to-face fundraising, with extra measures in place to keep our fundraisers and the public safe. We have been completely overwhelmed by the kind words and praise we have received over the...
17 June 2020
NDCS – Impact of Covid-19
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) is going through a period of huge change, with Covid-19 causing widespread disruption to the vital external services and support that many deaf children rely on, their friendships, their schools and their audiology services. Routine audiology services, schools, Teachers of the Deaf and...
