Providing support for children and families in need
Newlife, established 30 years ago, provides specialist equipment and support for disabled and terminally ill children and their families across the UK.
The organisation supplies life-changing and life-saving equipment when and where it is needed, often to children whose needs have been refused or delayed by statutory services.
Newlife works alongside parents and health professionals and campaigns to improve opportunities and outcomes for disabled children. Services are provided across the UK, both directly to families and through engagement with health professionals. The support is ongoing, responding to needs as they arise. Thousands of children benefit from equipment and support each year, helping them access opportunities and fulfil their potential.
| “Thank you to the Rooney Family Foundation for its funding of Newlife’s work to support children with disabilities providing them with vital specialist equipment to improve the quality of their lives. We are pleased to share anonymised feedback from some of the families the funding helped with the £3,795 grant in August 2025 which demonstrates the huge impact the support has had.” |
Child A
Child A is eight and has a condition that affects their bones, spine and mobility so they urgently needed a buggy that would keep them comfortable enough to be able to go outside without being in pain. Thanks to the buggy that The Rooney Family Foundation has funded the world has opened up again for them. They are much happier now with equipment to meet their needs, allowing them to go outside in comfort and spend more time in nature with their family.
Their mum said:
| “They absolutely love their new jogger push chair. It is so much more comfortable for them, and we’ve already noticed how much happier and more relaxed they are when we’re out and about. The big wheels make such a difference, especially during the winter months. They allow us to get out and about much more easily, without worrying about uneven paths or muddy ground. It’s given us back a sense of freedom as a family. They especially love being able to sit comfortably and watch the trees and nature as we go along. It’s lovely to see how much they enjoy being outdoors. We are incredibly grateful to you for securing the funding and making this possible for them. It truly has made a positive difference to our daily lives.” |
Child B
Child B is four-years-old and has Autism and development delay which means they need a buggy to be safe outside, but the one they were using was becoming too small and they were fast approaching the weight limit. They urgently needed a new buggy to allow them and their family to carry on with everyday life and ensure they could do the activities they enjoy. Thanks to the grant, they now have a specialist buggy to keep them comfortable, safe and secure.
Their mum said:
| “The new buggy means we can go out in public as a family as they struggle to walk any long distance. It will allow them to stay calm and in a happy mood instead of being upset when they have to walk, or a parent having to carry them. This buggy also reclines to help them remain calm and settled while we are out in public on walks or at the park.” |
Child C
Child C is five years old and has a diagnosis of Autism and Development Delay. They are now safe and secure on car journeys after receiving a specialist car seat funded by The Rooney Family Foundation, which means they can join in with family when they are enjoying new adventures, visiting well-loved places or going about everyday life. They have no awareness of danger when in the car, so they need a five-point harness to keep them safe. However, high-street car seats for their age don’t provide the safety features they require so it meant an adult would have to sit next to them to always protect them in the car, which wasn’t practical or safe. The mum was faced with no longer able to travel anywhere on her own with her child and their new baby sibling but thanks to the support from the Rooney Family Foundation we were able to provide the family with the equipment needed to travel safely and the mum shared the impact this had - she said:
| “With the car seat from Newlife which has the five-point harness they I know they are safe and comfortable too. Now they are really happy to get into the car seat and I know they are secure while I am driving – which means we can go anywhere. Thank you for your support and for helping the children and their families live safer, more inclusive lives - we are extremely grateful for your generosity.” |
Our vital Specialist Equipment Service is a life-line for disabled families across the UK who cannot get the wheelchairs, specialist buggies and other items they need from statutory sources. Sadly, it continues to be very difficult for children with disabilities to access support from local services. A combination of staff shortages, budget cuts, closure of local services and long waits for appointments have left many families with no-one to turn to. Our recent “Fight for our Future” report highlights that only 2 in 5 families feel their child has all the equipment they need.
As a result, an increasing number of families are turning to Newlife, and we have provided over 700 children with specialist equipment this financial year to date.
Read more about The Rooney Family Foundation here.