Disability Support
Information & Guidance Hub

Supporting Inclusion, Accessibility & Independent Living

Disability Support provides friendly, balanced, and accessible 

information to help individuals, 

families, carers, and communities better understand disability, 

additional needs, neurodiversity, mental health, accessibility rights, reasonable adjustments, and 

available support services.

Our aim is to make information easier to understand, helping people feel more informed, supported, 

included, and better prepared to navigate daily challenges, public services, healthcare, education, 

employment, benefits systems, and accessibility needs.

We encourage dignity, equality, 

inclusion, compassionate 

communication, and fair access to support for all individuals, 

regardless of physical disability, neurodiversity, mental health 

condition, sensory impairment, chronic illness, or additional needs.

The information on this website is provided as general guidance and information only. 

Disability Support is not a medical service, legal service, or regulated advice provider. We do not provide medical diagnoses, legal 

advice, or crisis intervention 

services. If you require specialist support, legal advice, medical 

assistance, or emergency help, you should contact an appropriate 

qualified professional or emergency support service.

The wellbeing, safety, dignity, 

independence, and equal rights of disabled individuals and people with additional needs remain at the heart of everything we promote.

Disability Awareness Matters

Accessible and inclusive 

communities help create safer, fairer, and more supportive environments for everyone.

Campaign's for Mental Health System Reform in the United Kingdom

It's Time for Change

Mental health affects millions of people across the United Kingdom every year. 

Despite increased awareness and progress in reducing stigma, many people continue to face significant barriers when seeking support. Long waiting lists, underfunded services, staff shortages, fragmented care, and unequal access to treatment leave too many people struggling without the help they need.

This campaign supports the call for meaningful reform of the UK's mental health system. We believe everyone deserves timely, compassionate, and effective mental health care regardless of age, background, income, ethnicity, or location.

Why We Are Campaigning

Across the UK, people with lived experience, carers, healthcare professionals, charities, and advocacy organisations have raised serious concerns about the current state of mental health services.

The Problems People Are Facing

Long Waiting Times

Many people wait months, and sometimes years, for assessments, therapy, counselling, or specialist treatment. During this time, mental health conditions can worsen significantly.

People tell us:

"I asked for help when I first started struggling, but support wasn't available until I reached crisis point."

"The waiting list was longer than I could cope with."

A System That Reacts to Crisis

Many services only become available once someone is severely unwell. Campaigners believe more investment is needed in prevention and early intervention.

People tell us:

"The system waits until you're in crisis."

"Help should come before someone reaches breaking point."

Mental Health Is Not Treated Equally

Mental health conditions can be just as serious and life-changing as physical illnesses, yet many people feel mental health services still do not receive the same priority.

People tell us:

"Mental health should be treated as seriously as physical health."

"No one should wait longer for care because their illness is invisible."

Services Are Fragmented

People often find themselves being referred between multiple services without clear communication or continuity of care.

People tell us:

"I had to tell my story over and over again."

"Nobody seemed responsible for my overall care."

Staff and Services Are Under Pressure

Mental health professionals work tirelessly, but increasing demand and workforce shortages place enormous pressure on services.

People tell us:

"Staff were amazing, but they were clearly overwhelmed."

"There simply aren't enough resources."

Inequalities Still Exist

Many communities experience poorer mental health outcomes and greater barriers to support. Campaigners continue to raise concerns about racial inequalities, social disadvantage, and unequal access to services.

What Needs to Change

We support calls for a modern, fair, and effective mental health system that focuses on prevention, recovery, and dignity.

We Call For:

✅ Faster access to mental health treatment

✅ Reduced waiting times

✅ More investment in mental health services

✅ Better crisis support

✅ Earlier intervention and prevention

✅ More support for children and young people

✅ Stronger patient rights

✅ Improved community mental health services

✅ Better integration between health and social care

✅ Action to tackle inequalities in mental health care

✅ Equal treatment of mental and physical health

Supporting National Campaigns for Change

This campaign stands alongside organisations and movements that have worked tirelessly to improve mental health services throughout the UK.

Mind – Mental Health Act Reform

Mind has campaigned for reforms that strengthen patient rights, increase choice and control, and address inequalities in mental health treatment.

Visit:
Mind – Mental Health Act Reform

Mind – Raise the Standard

This campaign called for improved standards in inpatient mental health care and greater dignity and safety for people receiving treatment.

Visit:
Raise the Standard Campaign

Time to Change

One of the UK's most successful mental health campaigns, helping to challenge stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Visit:
Time to Change Archive

Rethink Mental Illness

Campaigning for better services, crisis care, community support, and fair treatment for people living with severe mental illness.

Visit:
Rethink Mental Illness Campaigns

Centre for Mental Health

Working to improve mental health policy, tackle inequalities, and support evidence-based reform across the UK.

Visit:
Centre for Mental Health

YoungMinds

Championing better mental health support for children and young people.

Visit:
YoungMinds

Our Vision

We believe mental health care should be:

• Accessible
• Compassionate
• Person-centred
• Timely
• Inclusive
• Well-funded
• Prevention-focused
• Available to everyone who needs it

No one should be left waiting until they reach crisis point before receiving support.

No one should face discrimination because of their mental health.

No one should have to navigate a broken system alone.

Supporting Families Affected by System-Induced Mental Health Harm

STOPS – Stop The Overpayments and Psychological Stress Campaign

STOPS is a UK-based campaign that raises awareness of the mental health impact that government administrative systems can have on individuals and families. The campaign focuses particularly on concerns surrounding the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and the experiences of people who report severe stress, anxiety, trauma, financial hardship, and psychological distress as a result of administrative and enforcement processes.

The campaign argues that some government systems can unintentionally contribute to mental health deterioration, family breakdown, and, in the most serious cases, suicidal crises.

Visit:

STOPS Campaign

What STOPS Is Calling For

The campaign advocates for:

✅ Greater recognition of the mental health impacts of government systems and policies

✅ Improved safeguarding for vulnerable individuals experiencing distress

✅ Better support for families affected by administrative disputes and enforcement action

✅ Suicide prevention measures within public sector systems

✅ Independent review and reform of Child Maintenance Service processes

✅ Greater accountability and transparency within government agencies

✅ Inclusion of lived experience in policy development and service improvement

Mental Health Concerns Raised by the Campaign

STOPS highlights several key mental health issues reported by individuals and families:

Prolonged Stress and Psychological Harm

Many people report experiencing chronic stress resulting from lengthy disputes, enforcement processes, financial pressures, and difficulties navigating administrative systems.

Anxiety, Depression and Trauma

Campaigners state that ongoing uncertainty and perceived lack of support can contribute to anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, and trauma-related symptoms.

Suicide Prevention

A central message of the campaign is that mental health impacts should be considered a safeguarding issue. Campaigners argue that systems should identify and respond to signs of severe distress before individuals reach crisis point.

Recognition of Lived Experience

The campaign seeks to amplify the voices of individuals and families who have experienced significant psychological harm and those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Why This Matters

Mental health is influenced not only by healthcare services but also by the systems people interact with throughout their lives. Financial pressures, family disputes, housing issues, employment challenges, and government processes can all affect mental wellbeing.

Campaigns such as STOPS argue that safeguarding mental health should be considered across all areas of public policy and service delivery, not solely within healthcare settings.

By listening to lived experiences and improving the way systems respond to vulnerable individuals, campaigners believe it is possible to reduce harm, prevent crises, and create services that are fairer, safer, and more compassionate.

A Call for Wider Mental Health Reform

Improving mental health outcomes requires action across society. Alongside reforms to NHS services, campaigners are calling for greater awareness of how government systems, public services, and administrative processes can impact mental wellbeing.

A truly effective mental health strategy must consider prevention, safeguarding, early intervention, and the experiences of people who interact with public systems every day.

Every policy should consider its impact on mental health. Every service should recognise vulnerability. Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and care.

How You Can Help

Share Your Story

Lived experience drives change. Sharing personal experiences can help highlight the realities people face and influence future policy.

Raise Awareness

Help start conversations about mental health in your community, workplace, school, or organisation.

Support Mental Health Organisations

Consider supporting charities and advocacy groups working to improve mental health services and protect patient rights.

Call for Change

Contact local representatives, participate in consultations, support campaigns, and help amplify the voices of those affected by mental health challenges.

Together We Can Build a Better Mental Health System

Mental health matters.

Every person deserves access to quality support when they need it.

Together, we can create a mental health system that focuses on prevention, values lived experience, respects individual rights, and provides timely, compassionate care for everyone across the United Kingdom.

Join us in calling for meaningful mental health system reform.

National Crime Prevention Campaigns

National Crime Reporting & Community Safety

Crimestoppers UK

Website: Crimestoppers UK

Campaigns include:

• Speak Up. Stay Safe.
• County Lines awareness
• Violence Against Women & Girls
• Modern Slavery awareness
• Organised Crime reporting
• Illegal Weapons reporting
• Drug Crime reporting

Crimestoppers allows anonymous reporting 24/7 and works alongside police forces nationwide.

Fraud & Cybercrime Campaigns

Action Fraud

Website: Action Fraud

Focus:

• Online scams
• Investment fraud
• Romance scams
• Banking fraud
• Identity theft
• Business fraud

Cyber Aware

Website: Cyber Aware

Campaign themes:

• Strong passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Device security
• Phishing awareness
• Safe online shopping

Millions of cybercrime incidents occur annually, and Cyber Aware provides prevention guidance backed by policing and government partners.

Counter-Terrorism Campaigns

Counter Terrorism Policing

Website: ACT Campaign

Major campaigns:

• Action Counters Terrorism (ACT)
• Prevent awareness
• Public vigilance campaigns
• Business security awareness

Campaign slogan:

"Action Counters Terrorism"

ProtectUK

Website: ProtectUK

Focus:

• Stadium security
• Event security
• Business preparedness
• Crowded place protection
• Counter-terrorism awareness

Knife Crime Campaigns

Government Knife Crime Strategy

Website: Protecting Lives, Building Hope

Key initiatives:

• Halving knife crime
• Youth intervention programmes
• Violence Reduction Units
• Community partnerships
• County Lines disruption operations

The government has committed further funding to tackle knife crime and exploitation linked to organised gangs.

Local Knife Crime Campaigns

Examples include:

• Operation Deter
• No More Knives
• Lives Not Knives
• Knife Angel tours
• Violence Reduction Unit campaigns

In the Thames Valley (including Milton Keynes), Operation Deter focuses on taking knife carriers off the streets and reducing serious violence.

County Lines & Child Criminal Exploitation

Home Office County Lines Programme

Website: County Lines Programme

Focus:

• Child criminal exploitation
• Drug trafficking networks
• Gang violence
• Safeguarding vulnerable children

Recent results include:

• Thousands of county lines closed
• Thousands of arrests
• Safeguarding referrals for exploited children
• Knife seizures and gang disruption activity. 

Supporting Victims of County Lines

Campaign partners:

• Catch22
• The Children's Society
• NSPCC

These organisations focus on identifying and supporting exploited children.

Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)

National VAWG Strategy

Website: Government VAWG Strategy

Campaign areas:

• Domestic abuse
• Sexual violence
• Stalking
• Harassment
• Coercive control

Independent Office for Police Conduct

Website: You Have A Voice Campaign

Campaigns:

• You Have A Voice
• Ending Victim Blaming
• Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse reviews

Designed to improve trust and reporting among women and girls.

Domestic Abuse Campaigns

SafeLives

Website: SafeLives

Campaigns:

• Ending domestic abuse
• Multi-agency safeguarding
• Victim protection

Anti-Hate Crime Campaigns

Stop Hate UK

Website: Stop Hate UK

Campaigns against:

• Racist hate crime
• Disability hate crime
• Religious hate crime
• LGBT+ hate crime

National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Website: National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Annual campaign supported by:

• Police forces
• Local authorities
• Community groups

Victim Support Campaigns

Victim Support

Website: Victim Support

Campaign priorities:

• Victims' rights
• Domestic abuse support
• Stalking support
• Criminal justice reform

Road Safety & Police Campaigns

THINK!

Website: THINK! Road Safety

Campaigns:

• Drink driving
• Drug driving
• Mobile phone use
• Seatbelt safety
• Young driver safety

Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking

Modern Slavery Helpline

Website: Modern Slavery Helpline

Campaign focus:

• Labour exploitation
• Human trafficking
• Sexual exploitation
• Criminal exploitation

Police & Crime Commissioners (PCC) Campaigns

Every PCC in England and Wales runs local campaigns around:

• Knife crime
• Domestic abuse
• Violence against women and girls
• Anti-social behaviour
• Youth violence
• Rural crime
• Cybercrime
• Victim support

PCC Directory

Website: Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Campaigns

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) coordinates campaigns for parish and town councils across England. Current campaign areas include: ling Climate Change

• Utilising the Planning System Campaigns

The represents councils across England and runs several major campaigns. turn0search4

Back Local Climate Action

Supports councils in reducing emissions and delivering local climate projects. of adult social care services. local authority care. toolkits for councils. Town-centre regeneration Support Fund awareness

• Energy bill assistance
• Food support programmes
• Financial inclusion projects
• Recycling education
• Biodiversity projects academia61

Housing

• Affordable housing programmes
• Private landlord licensing campaigns
• Homelessness prevention initiatives campaigns ia-friendly communities
• Public health campaigns
• Youth participation programmes
• Youth councils
• Care leaver support campaigns Useful Campaign Resources
•  
• LGA Campaigns Hub
• Local Council Recruitment Campaign

Campaigners from the Proportional Representation (PR) advocacy group Make Votes Matter took to the streets of Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire on Saturday 13th June as part of a nationwide day of action calling on Westminster to “wake up” and deliver electoral reform.

A good example would be the recent local election results in Milton Keynes where the Lib-Dems won the most seats (20 out of 60) on the city council despite winning a lower percentage of the overall votes (18.5%) than Labour (22.2%), the Conservatives (20.5%) or Reform (24.4%).  

 The recent local election results in England have fuelled renewed calls for electoral reform, with advocates of a proportional system highlighting growing public frustration with a system that fails to represent votes accurately and leaves millions without meaningful representation. The campaign is calling for a proportional voting system that would ensure seats in Parliament more accurately reflect how people Vote.

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/your-world/political-opinion-milton-keynes-campaigners-tell-westminster-to-wake-up-on-electoral-reform-8743741?fbclid=IwdGRzaASesdJjbGNrBJ6xWWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkF5_GnWNdBOS2k6vHJL4S6JTQNJPUiSujEMhJLKshablEP2CO8ffvYiboYf_aem_YWdncwANSsPNfczlkMWZ1So9GB2N&brid=YWdncwFBjw0NahqX5BQuo1ygg3KC

UK Education Campaigns

National Literacy Campaigns

National Literacy Trust

Mission

Improve literacy skills among children, young people, and adults.

Major Campaigns

• National Literacy Campaign
• Young Readers Programme
• Libraries for Primaries
• Early Words Matter
• Literacy Champions

Focus

• Reading attainment
• School readiness
• Family literacy
• Disadvantaged communities

World Book Day UK & Ireland

Annual Campaign

One of the UK's largest education campaigns.

Goals

• Encourage reading for pleasure
• Increase book ownership
• Improve literacy engagement

Millions of children participate every year through schools and libraries.

Numeracy Campaigns

National Numeracy

Mission

Increase confidence and skills in everyday mathematics.

Major Campaigns

• National Numeracy Day
• National Numeracy Challenge
• Number Confidence Campaigns
• Adult Numeracy Improvement Programmes

Focus

• Maths anxiety
• Adult numeracy
• School numeracy
• Workplace numeracy

National Numeracy aims to improve attitudes to maths and influence public policy around numeracy.

Speech and Language UK Campaigns

https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/

The Missing Million

Purpose:
Raises awareness that children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) are often overlooked in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms.

Key objectives:

• Increase recognition of DLD
• Improve access to support
• Influence SEND policy
• Ensure affected children are included in education reforms

Campaign link:
The Missing Million

Website summary:
"Children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder are being overlooked in plans for SEND reform – but we can change this."

Fight for Ordinary

Purpose:
Promotes practical, cost-effective approaches that improve outcomes for children with speech and language challenges.

Key objectives:

• Improve everyday experiences for children
• Reduce expensive crisis interventions
• Promote evidence-based support
• Encourage early intervention

Campaign link:
Fight for Ordinary

Focus:
Demonstrates how investing earlier can deliver better educational and social outcomes.

Transforming SEND

Purpose:
Advocates for a more inclusive Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system.

Key objectives:

• Ensure every child feels understood
• Improve SEND support in schools
• Influence education policy
• Promote inclusive learning environments

Campaign link:
Transforming SEND

Campaign vision:
"A future where every child feels understood at school."

A Perfect Storm

Purpose:
Highlights the relationship between speech and language difficulties and mental health challenges.

Key objectives:

• Increase awareness among schools and healthcare providers
• Improve mental health support
• Recognise communication difficulties as a risk factor
• Promote earlier intervention

Campaign link:
A Perfect Storm

Focus:
Mental health and speech and language challenges often overlap and require coordinated support.

Support Not Sanctions

Purpose:
Campaigns for fairer school behaviour systems for children with speech and language challenges.

Key objectives:

• Reduce unfair punishments
• Improve understanding among educators
• Create inclusive school policies
• Support communication needs

Campaign link:
Support Not Sanctions

Focus:
Creating a fairer education system for approximately two million children who struggle with communication.

Getting In Early

Purpose:
Promotes early identification and intervention for speech and language difficulties.

Key objectives:

• Improve outcomes through early support
• Equip teachers and early years staff
• Reduce long-term educational disadvantages
• Improve school readiness

Campaign link:
Getting In Early

Focus:
Early intervention programmes that can transform children's lives.

Major Historic Campaigns

1.7 Million Young Futures

Year: 2022

Purpose:
Research-led campaign highlighting that 1.7 million children were struggling with talking and understanding words.

Achievements:

• Surveyed more than 1,000 families and teachers
• National media coverage
• Called for better teacher training
• Promoted school-based support programmes

Campaign link:
1.7 Million Young Futures

Speaking Up for the Covid Generation

Year: 2021

Purpose:
Highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's speech and language development.

Key findings:

• Approximately 1.5 million children fell behind
• Teachers reported significant communication delays
• Called for targeted recovery support

Campaign link:
Speaking Up for the Covid Generation

Bercow: 10 Years On

Year: 2017

Purpose:
Reviewed progress since the original Bercow Report on speech, language and communication support.

Objectives:

• Assess implementation of recommendations
• Identify remaining gaps
• Influence future policy

Campaign link:
Bercow: 10 Years On

The Bercow Report

Year: 2008

Purpose:
A landmark review of services for children with speech and language challenges.

Impact:

• Increased national awareness
• Influenced government policy
• Helped establish the Communication Trust
• Became one of the most influential reports in the sector

Campaign link:
The Bercow Report Campaign History

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Campaigns

Campaign Focus

• SEND legal rights
• Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• School inclusion
• Parent advocacy

Special Needs Jungle

Campaign Areas

• SEND reform
• School accessibility
• EHCP protections
• Parent support

Recent national campaigns have opposed reductions in SEND legal protections and support rights.

School Attendance Campaigns

Department for Education Attendance Campaign

Main Message

"Every school day counts."

Focus

• Reducing persistent absence
• Mental health and attendance
• School engagement
• Academic outcomes

Attendance remains a major national education priority.

Founded

1960

Focus

• Fair access to education
• School accountability
• State education improvement
• Academy system scrutiny

CASE campaigns for a democratically accountable education system that works for all children.

More Than A Score

Campaign Focus

• Reforming SATs testing
• Child wellbeing
• Alternative assessment methods

Supporters

Teachers, parents, academics, and education unions.

School Funding Campaigns

WorthLess? Campaign

Focus

• School funding
• Teacher resources
• Educational equality

Founded by headteachers campaigning for increased school budgets.

School Cuts Campaign

Focus

• School funding transparency
• Impact of budget reductions
• Teacher recruitment and retention

Teacher Support Campaigns

Education Support

Campaign Areas

• Teacher wellbeing
• Mental health support
• Burnout prevention
• Workforce retention

National Education Union Campaigns

Focus

• Teacher pay
• School funding
• Workload reduction
• SEND support
• Child poverty

STEM Education Campaigns

STEM Learning

Programmes

• STEM Ambassadors
• Computing education
• Science education
• Engineering engagement

British Science Association

Campaigns

• British Science Week
• CREST Awards
• Public engagement in science

Digital & Online Safety Education Campaigns

Internet Matters

Focus

• Online safety
• Digital literacy
• Social media education
• Cyberbullying prevention

Childnet International

Campaigns

• Safer Internet Day UK
• Online citizenship
• Digital resilience

Careers & Social Mobility Campaigns

The Sutton Trust

Focus

• Educational opportunity
• University access
• Social mobility
• Apprenticeships

IntoUniversity

Focus

• University access
• Academic support
• Mentoring
• Aspirational education

Mental Health & Education Campaigns

YoungMinds

Education Campaigns

• Mental health in schools
• Exam stress
• Student wellbeing
• School support services

Place2Be

Campaigns

• Children's Mental Health Week
• School-based counselling
• Early intervention

COST'S LESS TO SAY YES TO ASSESS 

EHCP

EHCP National Statistics (2025 data, published 2026)

Measure                                                                     Number

Active EHCPs                                                            718,838

New EHCPs issued                                                  110,708

Requests for EHCP needs assessments             162,702

How many councils refuse to assess?

In 2025:

• 162,702 requests for EHCP assessments were made.
• Around 5,100 SEND Tribunal appeals were against refusal to assess.
• Around 11,200 mediation cases followed refusals to assess. 

Not every refusal is appealed, so tribunal figures do not equal the total number of refusals.

How many councils refuse to issue an EHCP after assessment?

During 2025:

• 2,400 mediations
• 1,700 tribunal appeals

were specifically about councils deciding not to issue an EHCP after carrying out an assessment.

Parents' success at Tribunal

This is probably the most striking statistic.

For many years the Ministry of Justice has reported that:

• Around 98–99% of concluded SEND Tribunal appeals are decided in favour of parents or are conceded by councils before the final hearing. 

That does not mean every parent wins after a full hearing.

It means that by the end of the tribunal process:

• councils often concede before the hearing,
• reach agreement during proceedings,
• or parents win at the hearing.

This has remained consistently around 98–99% for several years.

SEND Tribunal appeals

Academic Year 2024/25:

• 25,000 appeals registered
• 20,000 appeals completed
• 18% increase on the previous year. 

What are parents appealing?

Of all tribunal appeals:

Appeal Type                                                    Percentage

Refusal to assess                                          24%

EHCP contents (Sections B, F or I)             61%

Other decisions (refusal to issue etc.)      15%

Times councils should meet

Decision whether to assess

Legal limit:

• 6 weeks

In 2025:

• 87.4% met the deadline.
• 12.6% missed it. 

Decision whether to issue an EHCP

Legal limit:

• 16 weeks

In 2025:

Only

• 37.4%

were completed within the statutory timescale.

Meaning

• 62.6% took longer than the law allows. 

Key figures at a glance

Statistic                                                                                   Figure

EHCP requests                                                                      162,702

Active EHCPs                                                                         718,838

Tribunal appeals                                                                    25,000

Parents successful (including concessions)                   98–99%

Appeals about refusal to assess                                        24%

Appeals about EHCP content                                             61%

Assessment decisions within 6 weeks                             87.4%

Decisions to issue/no issue within 16 weeks                  37.4%

What these figures suggest

The official statistics show:

• Requests for EHCPs continue to rise each year.
• SEND Tribunal appeals are at record levels.
• The overwhelming majority of appeals are resolved in favour of parents or by councils conceding before the hearing.
• A large proportion of councils continue to miss the statutory deadline for deciding whether to issue an EHCP after assessment.

Comparison

                                                                             LOW                            MID                                       HIGH

Grant EHCP early (annual support)      £3,000–£5,000         £6,000–£12,000             £15,000–£30,000+

Council refuses / Tribunal                     £4,000–£6,000          £6,000–£10,000             £10,000–£20,000+

The mid-range tribunal cost of about £6,000 is based on Department for Education estimates of local authority preparation and attendance costs for a full appeal.

For more complex SEND appeals involving multiple expert reports and legal representation, local authority costs can rise well beyond £10,000 according to the independent SEND Tribunal evaluation.

🟢 Grant Support First Time

LOW
💷 £3k–£5k

MEDIUM
💷 £6k–£12k

HIGH
💷 £15k–£30k+

• Child supported immediately
• Money goes directly to education
• Better long-term outcomes
• Avoids litigation

🔴 Refuse → Appeal    IF THE COUNCIL REFUSES SUPPORT AND THE DECISION IS APPEALED

LOW
💷 £4k–£6k

MEDIUM
💷 £6k–£10k

HIGH
💷 £10k–£20k+

• Months waiting
• Tribunal preparation
• Officer time
• Legal costs
• Child often still receives support afterwards if the appeal succeeds

98–99% of concluded SEND Tribunal appeals are ultimately resolved in favour of parents or by councils conceding before the hearing.

Around 63% of councils miss the legal 16-week deadline for deciding whether to issue an EHCP after assessment.

More than 162,000 requests for EHCP assessments were made in England in the latest reporting year.

EHCP COMPARED (2025)

Costs of Appeals vs. Providing Support Early

🟢 IF AN EHCP IS GRANTED STRAIGHT AWAY

Support Level                              Typical Annual Cost

🟢 Low Needs                            £3,000–£5,000

🟢 Medium Needs                     £6,000–£12,000

🟢 High / Complex Needs        £15,000–£30,000+

Benefits

✅ Child receives support immediately

✅ Funding goes directly into education

✅ Better educational outcomes

✅ Reduced pressure on schools and families

✅ Earlier intervention can reduce future costs

🔴 IF THE DECISION GOES TO SEND TRIBUNAL

Appeal Complexity                             Typical Public Cost

🟠 Low                                                 £4,000–£6,000

🔶 Medium                                          £6,000–£10,000

🔴 High                                                £10,000–£20,000+

During the appeal

❌ Child may wait months without appropriate support

❌ Officer time

❌ Educational Psychology reports

❌ Legal preparation

❌ Tribunal administration

❌ Barrister/solicitor costs where used

❌ The council may still have to provide the EHCP if the family succeeds

At a Glance

Grant Support Early                                       Tribunal Appeal

£3k–£30k+                                                     £4k–£20k+

Money spent supporting the child               Money partly spent on litigation and administration

Support begins sooner                                  Support may be delayed

Better educational outcomes                       Dispute process before support

Key Facts (2025)

• 162,702 requests for EHCP needs assessments in England. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_education_in_the_United_Kingdom?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• 718,838 children and young people with an EHCP. 
• Around 25,000 SEND Tribunal appeals registered annually. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-overhaul-special-needs-education-costs-spiral-2026-02-22/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• Around 98–99% of concluded appeals are ultimately resolved in favour of families or conceded by councils before a final hearing. 

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/labours-send-proposals-little-reassurance-families-ppmflhps9?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• Only around 37% of decisions to issue an EHCP after assessment are completed within the statutory 16-week timescale, meaning most exceed the legal deadline.

Figures are illustrative ranges based on published Department for Education evidence, independent SEND Tribunal evaluation research and publicly available information on SEND funding. Actual costs vary depending on the child's needs and the complexity of the case.

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-overhaul-special-needs-education-costs-spiral-2026-02-22/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

"98–99% of concluded SEND Tribunal appeals ultimately result in families obtaining the outcome they sought or councils conceding before the hearing."

If you're estimating the total public cost of 25,000 SEND Tribunal appeals, and then showing what 98% represents (based on the commonly cited figure that around 98% of concluded appeals are resolved in favour of families or conceded by councils), the calculations are:

Average Cost per Appeal            Total Cost (25,000 Appeals)           98% of Total                         Remaining 2%

£4,000                                                £100,000,000                               £98,000,000                         £2,000,000

£6,000                                                £150,000,000                               £147,000,000                       £3,000,000

£10,000                                             £250,000,000                                £245,000,000                       £5,000,000

£20,000                                             £500,000,000                                £490,000,000                       £10,000,000

If 25,000 appeals each cost an average of £6,000, the total public-sector cost would be around £150 million. If around 98% of concluded appeals ultimately result in families obtaining the outcome sought or councils conceding, a large proportion of these costs are incurred in cases where the family ultimately succeeds.

 If every request had been approved 

for an EHCP needs assessment, the cost would be the cost of 

carrying out the assessment process, not the cost of issuing an EHCP to every child.

For 2025:

• Requests for assessment: 162,702
• Assessments actually carried out: 118,800
• Additional assessments that would have been needed if every request had been approved: 43,902 

Because there is no single official national cost for an EHCP assessment, we can only estimate. Costs vary depending on the professionals involved (Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, medical advice, administration, etc.).

Estimated cost if every request had been assessed

Estimated cost per assessment                         Total cost for 162,702 assessments

£1,500                                                                      £244.1 million

£2,000                                                                      £325.4 million

£2,500                                                                      £406.8 million

£3,000                                                                      £488.1 million

Additional cost beyond what councils actually assessed

Since around 118,800 assessments were already carried out, only the extra 43,902 assessments would represent additional expenditure:

Estimated cost per extra assessment               Additional cost

£1,500                                                                    £65.9 million

£2,000                                                                    £87.8 million

£2,500                                                                    £109.8 million

£3,000                                                                    £131.7 million

Would investing in more assessments 

and earlier decisions reduce the number of costly disputes and 

improve outcomes for children?

What the evidence shows

1. Early intervention generally improves outcomes

There is broad evidence that identifying and supporting children with special educational needs earlier can improve educational progress, wellbeing, and school attendance. This principle underpins the SEND Code of Practice.

Evidence:

• SEND Code of Practice (2015)
• Department for Education SEND Improvement Programme
• National Audit Office reports on SEND

2. Tribunals are expensive

Every tribunal typically involves:

• SEND officers
• Legal teams
• Educational psychologists
• School staff
• Tribunal administration
• Parent preparation
• Expert reports

Instead of spending those resources on delivering support, some public money is spent resolving disputes.

3. Most tribunal cases ultimately favour families

Official statistics consistently show that approximately 98–99% of concluded SEND Tribunal appeals are either:

• decided in favour of families, or
• conceded by councils before the hearing.

That demonstrates that many disputes ultimately result in children receiving changes to the council's original decision.

4. Delays can affect children

Research has found that while cases are ongoing, children may experience:

• delayed educational support
• increased anxiety
• reduced attendance
• family stress
• additional pressure on schools

The exact impact varies by child and circumstances.

What cannot honestly be claimed

It would not be accurate to say:

"If councils simply said yes immediately, hundreds of millions would be saved." 

That has not been proven.

Because:

• not every assessment results in an EHCP,
• not every refusal is incorrect,
• not every refusal leads to tribunal,
• some appeals concern the contents of an EHCP rather than whether one should exist.

A fair evidence-based conclusion

A good way to present the evidence is:

The available evidence suggests that investing in timely assessments and earlier decisions may reduce the number of costly disputes, improve children's outcomes and reduce delays in accessing support. However, the precise financial savings have not been quantified nationally.

BUT ! 

Assuming that 98% of 25,000 appeals were successful or conceded:

25,000 × 98% = 24,500 successful cases

The remaining 500 cases represent 2%.

Tribunal cost compared with giving support straight away

This model assumes the 24,500 successful families ultimately received the decision or provision they 

appealed for.

Cost level                           Tribunal cost for all 25,000 appeals     Support for 24,500 successful cases       Combined cost after tribunal

Low: £4,000 each                  £100 million                                                  £98 million                                                   £198 million

Lower-mid: £6,000 each      £150 million                                                  £147 million                                                 £297 million

Mid-high: £10,000 each       £250 million                                                  £245 million                                                 £495 million

High: £20,000 each               £500 million                                                  £490 million                                                 £990 million

If those 24,500 cases had been agreed straight away

Cost per child              Estimated direct support cost                  Tribunal costs potentially avoided

£4,000                                     £98 million                                                 Up to £100 million

£6,000                                     £147 million                                               Up to £150 million

£10,000                                   £245 million                                               Up to £250 million

£20,000                                   £490 million                                               Up to £500 million

Main comparison

Low estimate

Provide support straight away: £98 million
Tribunal plus eventual support: £198 million
Difference: £100 million

Mid estimate

Provide support straight away: £147 million
Tribunal plus eventual support: £297 million
Difference: £150 million

Higher estimate

Provide support straight away: £245 million
Tribunal plus eventual support: £495 million
Difference: £250 million

Highest estimate

Provide support straight away: £490 million
Tribunal plus eventual support: £990 million
Difference: £500 million

Illustrative modelling suggests that providing the agreed support immediately could cost £98 million to £490 million, while going through tribunal and then providing that support could produce a combined cost of £198 million to £990 million.

Potential dispute-related expenditure: £100 million to £500 million.

If children who were eventually found to need support had received the appropriate decision earlier, public money currently spent on disputes might have been reduced and instead directed to helping children sooner.

Using your illustrative assumptions (not proven savings):

Scenario                                                           Potential dispute-related spending avoided

Low estimate                                                                 Around £100 million

Medium estimate                                                          Around £150 million

Higher estimate                                                             Around £250 million

Highest estimate                                                          Around £500 million

If many of the cases that eventually succeeded had been resolved correctly at the outset, the public sector might have avoided spending approximately £100 million to £500 million on the dispute process, depending on the average cost per case. Those resources could instead have been used to support children earlier.

EHCP Whistle blower 

Whistle blower details 'horror' of how council denies SEND support for families

Senior council managers encouraged colleagues to make it difficult for families to access special needs support and laughed about denying help to children with SEND, a council caseworker has told ITV News. The whistle blower, whose identity they are protecting, works as a special educational needs case worker at a council. She revealed superiors would “joke about the ways they can deny support to children and how they want to deny more children access.” She described how she and other case workers were encouraged to make it harder for families to make their case. This included leaving telephone numbers off emails, not 

replying fully to queries, and not having face-to-face meetings. 

•  ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj • Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news

National Financial Support Campaigns

Experienced banking customers can be targeted!

A woman was left shocked after fraudsters nearly stole £20,000 from her bank account through a sophisticated scam. Criminals gained access to her account and attempted to move a large sum of money, but the bank's fraud detection systems intervened before the full amount was lost. The incident highlights how convincing modern scams have become and serves as a warning for customers to remain vigilant, monitor their accounts regularly, and never share security details with unexpected callers or messages. The victim praised the bank's quick action, which helped prevent a potentially devastating financial loss.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/i-almost-20000-taken-bank-37170499?fbclid=Iwb21leAR8-L5jbGNrBHz4uWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHm3UP1-fNU47r8z6Fyd328eMuxXFkdaC5sA_fY1Ul3YtGDg7FhVlicyRLfSz_aem_YWdncwAz8GEDTI2az9jeJ_-JcbNy&brid=YWdncwFoiwPZsfbMf0eJNTNVm00a DO ME A SHORT SUMMARY FOR THIS

Cost of Living Action

What it is

A coalition of dozens of charities, trade unions, community groups, and anti-poverty organizations campaigning for systemic changes to reduce financial hardship.

Main goals

• Higher wages
• Better social security support
• Affordable housing
• Lower energy costs
• Fair taxation

Who it helps

• Low-income households
• Workers facing rising living costs
• Families affected by benefit changes

How to get involved

• Sign petitions
• Join local campaigns
• Attend public events
• Contact MPs through campaign actions

Living Wage Foundation

What it is

The UK's largest wage campaign promoting the "Real Living Wage"—a voluntary wage rate based on actual living costs rather than the legal minimum wage.

Main achievements

• Thousands of accredited employers
• Millions of pounds in additional earnings for workers
• Strong influence on UK wage policy debates

Who it helps

• Low-paid workers
• Young workers
• Workers in retail, care, hospitality, and cleaning sectors

How businesses can participate

Employers can become accredited Living Wage Employers and commit to paying the Real Living Wage.

Turn2us Campaigns

What it is

A major anti-poverty charity focused on financial insecurity.

Current campaign

"Stop the Stigma. Fix the System."

The campaign seeks to:

• Reduce stigma around claiming benefits
• Improve the welfare system
• Increase awareness of available support

Other work

• Benefits calculators
• Grant searches
• Research into poverty and hardship

Who it helps

• Benefit claimants
• Low-income households
• People experiencing sudden financial hardship

Turn2us specifically campaigns to tackle the root causes of poverty and financial insecurity while improving access to support.

StepChange Debt Charity

What it is

The UK's largest debt advice charity.

What they provide

• Free debt advice
• Debt management plans
• Budgeting support
• Debt relief guidance

Major campaigns

Breathing Space

Advocated for debt repayment pauses while people seek advice.

Credit Safety Net

Campaigning for stronger financial resilience and safer alternatives to high-cost credit.

Debt Awareness Week

Annual awareness campaign encouraging people to seek help early.

Debt in Mind

Addresses the relationship between debt and mental health.

StepChange has helped millions of people and continues to campaign for reforms to protect people facing debt problems.

Who it helps

• People with debt problems
• Families facing financial crises
• Individuals struggling with creditors

Fair By Design

What it is

A campaign tackling the "poverty premium."

The poverty premium

This is when poorer households pay more for essential services because they:

• Cannot access cheaper direct-debit deals
• Have poor credit scores
• Use prepayment energy meters
• Lack access to mainstream financial products

Campaign goals

• Fairer banking
• Fair insurance pricing
• Fair energy pricing
• Better access to affordable credit

Who it helps

• Financially excluded households
• People with poor credit histories
• People in deprived communities

Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

What it is

Founded by consumer champion Martin Lewis.

Focus

The link between:

• Mental health
• Debt
• Financial vulnerability

Campaign priorities

• Better support from banks
• Easier communication for vulnerable customers
• Protection against financial scams
• Fair treatment of people experiencing mental illness

Who it helps

• People with mental health conditions
• Vulnerable consumers
• Debt sufferers

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)

What it is

One of the UK's leading poverty research and campaigning organizations.

Main campaigns

• Ending poverty
• Improving social security
• Income guarantees
• Affordable housing
• Employment reform

What makes JRF influential

Their research is frequently cited by:

• Parliament
• Government departments
• National media

Who it helps

Everyone affected by poverty and low incomes.

Trussell

What it is

The UK's largest food bank network.

Campaign goal

To create a UK where food banks are no longer necessary.

Current focus

• Increasing household incomes
• Improving benefit adequacy
• Reducing emergency food demand

Who it helps

• Families in crisis
• Benefit claimants
• Working households experiencing hardship

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)

What it is

A leading child-poverty campaign organization.

Main campaigns

• Ending child poverty
• Improving child benefit support
• Free school meals
• Fair welfare policies

Who it helps

• Children
• Families
• Single parents

Government Financial Support Programmes

Cost of Living Support Hub (GOV.UK)

Provides information on:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Housing support
• Energy support
• Childcare assistance

Find Cost of Living Help From Your Local Council

Offers access to:

• Emergency grants
• Food support
• Utility assistance
• Household Support Fund schemes

Best Organisations to Contact Depending on Your Need

Situation

Best Organisation

Debt problems

StepChange

Finding grants

Turn2us

Benefit issues

CPAG

Food insecurity

Trussell

Mental health & money

Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

Low pay issues

Living Wage Foundation

Poverty research & advocacy

JRF

UK Disability Campaigns 

Scope – Benefits Without the Fight

Organisation: Scope

Benefits Without the Fight campaigns for a fairer disability benefits assessment system. Scope argues that many disabled people are wrongly denied support and must go through lengthy appeals to receive benefits they are entitled to.

Key Issues

• Inaccurate assessments
• High appeal rates
• Stress and financial hardship
• Delays in decision-making

Campaign Goals

• Improve assessment quality
• Reduce unnecessary reassessments
• Increase assessor training
• Create a more humane process

Why It Matters

Many disabled people rely on benefits such as PIP and Universal Credit to cover disability-related costs and maintain independence.

Website CTA

"Join the campaign for a fairer disability benefits system."

Scope – Disability Price Tag

Organisation: Scope

The Disability Price Tag campaign highlights the additional costs faced by disabled households. Scope's research shows disabled people face significant extra expenses because of disability.

Key Issues

• Higher energy costs
• Specialist equipment
• Accessible transport
• Care and support costs
• Home adaptations

Campaign Goals

• Government recognition of disability costs
• Increased financial support
• Better cost-of-living policies

Why It Matters

Financial inequality remains one of the largest barriers facing disabled people in the UK.

Scope – Travel Fair

Organisation: Scope

Travel Fair campaigns for fully accessible public transport across the UK.

Key Issues

• Broken lifts
• Inaccessible stations
• Poor staff training
• Difficult booking systems

Campaign Goals

• Step-free access
• Better assistance services
• Consistent accessibility standards
• Improved passenger rights

Why It Matters

Transport barriers prevent many disabled people from working, studying, and participating in society.

Scope – End the Awkward

Organisation: Scope

End the Awkward aims to challenge discomfort, stereotypes, and misconceptions around disability.

Objectives

• Improve disability confidence
• Reduce social stigma
• Encourage inclusive conversations
• Promote positive representation

Key Message

Most people want to be inclusive but are worried about saying the wrong thing.

Scope – Invisible Disabilities

Organisation: Scope

This campaign raises awareness that many disabilities are not immediately visible.

Conditions Highlighted

• Autism
• Chronic pain
• Mental health conditions
• Epilepsy
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Hearing loss

Campaign Goals

• Increase understanding
• Reduce judgment
• Improve accessibility
• Promote allyship

Key Message

"Not all disabilities are visible."

Scope – Let's Play Fair

Organisation: Scope

Let's Play Fair campaigns for accessible playgrounds where disabled and non-disabled children can play together.

Goals

• Inclusive playground design
• Accessible equipment
• Equal opportunities for play
• Better local authority standards

Why It Matters

Play is essential for child development and social inclusion.

Scope – Stuck: Reform Sick Pay

Organisation: Scope

This campaign seeks reform of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to make it more accessible and financially adequate.

Issues

• Low payment levels
• Eligibility barriers
• Financial insecurity during illness

Goals

• Inclusive SSP eligibility
• Better financial protection
• Reduced workplace inequality

Scope – We Won't Be Forgotten

Organisation: Scope

Overview

A campaign focused on ensuring disabled people are not overlooked during economic crises and cost-of-living pressures.

Key Themes

• Poverty
• Energy bills
• Food insecurity
• Disability-related expenses

Disabled People's Manifesto

Organisation: Disability Rights UK

Overview

The Disabled People's Manifesto sets out policy priorities created by disabled people and Disabled People's Organisations.

Core Themes

• Independent living
• Social care
• Employment
• Housing
• Transport
• Human rights
• Education

Goal

To influence national policy and legislation affecting disabled people.

Independent Living Campaign

Organisation: Disability Rights UK

Overview

Independent Living is one of the longest-running disability rights campaigns in the UK. It promotes disabled people's right to live with dignity and control over their own lives.

Core Principles

• Accessible housing
• Accessible transport
• Adequate income
• Personal assistance
• Inclusive education
• Equal employment

Why It Matters

Independent living is recognised internationally under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

UK Accessibility Act Campaign

Organisation: Disability Rights UK and partner DPOs

Overview

Campaigners are calling for a dedicated Accessibility Act to strengthen accessibility requirements across transport, housing, digital services, employment and public spaces.

Goals

• Stronger legal enforcement
• National accessibility standards
• Improved accountability

Disability Benefits Reform Campaign

Organisation: Disability Rights UK and disability groups

Overview

Focused on reforming PIP, Universal Credit disability support, and assessment systems.

Goals

• Fair assessments
• Co-designed welfare policies
• Better support for disabled claimants

Accessible Housing Campaign

Overview

Advocates for more accessible and adaptable housing across the UK.

Priorities

• Wheelchair-accessible homes
• Adaptable housing standards
• Affordable accessible accommodation

Accessible Elections Campaign

Overview

Works to ensure disabled people can participate fully in democratic processes.

Goals

• Accessible polling stations
• Alternative voting formats
• Better election information

Disability Hate Crime Campaign

Overview

Raises awareness of disability-related harassment, abuse and hate crime.

Objectives

• Stronger reporting systems
• Better police training
• Increased prosecutions

Learning Disability Campaigns

Mencap – Social Care Reform

Organisation: Mencap

Overview

Campaigning for sustainable social care funding and improved support for people with learning disabilities.

Key Issues

• Long waiting lists
• Lack of community support
• Workforce shortages

Mencap – Protecting Legal Safeguards

Overview

Recent campaigns have focused on protecting legal safeguards and rights for people with learning disabilities following major court decisions.

Goals

• Maintain legal protections
• Prevent loss of safeguards
• Protect vulnerable individuals

Jodey Whiting: Mum says she will 'never give up' as she prepares for next court hearing

The mother of a housebound disabled woman who took her own life after her benefits were stopped will have her case heard in the Court of Appeal.

Joy Dove has been campaigning for a second inquest into the death of her daughter Jodey Whiting to investigate the role the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may have played.

She has now been given dates for a hearing at the end of this month, where lawyers will put her case to a judge.

Ms Dove told ITV Tyne Tees: "I've had so many people tell me how they have been treated. It's my daughter and so everybody else's daughters, sons, fathers, you know.

"We were so close and we could talk to each other and were a proper mother and daughter.

"I can't bring her back but I can only try, for her sake and her memory. I won't give up, I'll never give up, until the day I die."

https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-01-09/jodey-whiting-mum-says-she-will-never-give-up-ahead-of-next-court-hearing?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Benefits system errors ‘predominant factor’ in Disabled claimant’s death

Errors in the benefits system were the ‘predominant factor’ in Philippa Day’s death, a Coroner has found.

Recording a narrative conclusion into Philippa’s death, Assistant Coroner Gordon Clow noted problems including the fact she was told to go for an assessment despite being eligible for a home assessment, and the lack of control staff had to be able to change automated letters being sent to her. While not ruling that the chain of events involving the DWP led directly to her suicide, he said: "…it was, at the least, Philippa Day’s intention to place her life at risk and to cause herself serious physical harm. It is not possible to determine on the available evidence whether or not it was her intention to thereby end her life."

He is recommending changes at both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Capita, which undertakes work on behalf of the DWP.

Philippa died after being in a coma for two months after she was found collapsed at her home in August 2019. A letter was found next to her rejecting her request for a benefits assessment to be carried out at her home.

Philippa was Disabled. She had a personality disorder and diabetes and had been claiming Disability Living Allowance for her diabetes for a decade, but began a claim for PIP in November 2018. The application form was apparently lost by the DWP and Philippa’s DLA payments were stopped in January 2019.

They were not reinstated or replaced by PIP for almost six months and Philippa fell into serious debt.

The court heard about a call by Philippa to the DWP in which she cried while describing her poverty and debt. She said she was “literally starving and cold… I have nothing to eat… I genuinely can’t survive like this for much longer”. The agent who took the call said she did not raise the call with Philippa’s case manager and did not follow the DWP’s six-point plan on suicidal statements. The agent said she had heard many claimants crying and saying similar things. 

The court also heard that inaccurate record-keeping on Philippa’s case had affected its progress.

A community psychiatric nurse told Capita that a face-to-face interview at an assessment centre scheduled for Philippa was causing immense distress. Capita refused to offer a home assessment.

Philippa’s family told the inquest that they believe the difficulties she had with both the DWP and Capita were the reasons she tried to take her own life.

DR UK’s Fazilet Hadi said: “An independent Inquiry into benefit-related deaths is long overdue. Philippa’s story is heart-breaking and reveals gross incompetence by the DWP and Capita. The DWP must take responsibility for safeguarding. It is in contact with millions of Disabled people with a variety of complex physical and mental conditions. It needs to put care at the heart of its processes to ensure it actively supports our needs and protects us from systemic harm.”

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2021/january/benefits-system-errors-%E2%80%98predominant-factor%E2%80%99-disabled-claimant%E2%80%99s-death?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Openness in the Family Court: 
What You Need to Know

The Family Court is becoming more transparent, allowing accredited journalists and authorised legal bloggers to attend certain hearings and report on cases. This initiative aims to improve public understanding of how the family justice system works while maintaining strict protections for children and families involved.

If a case is included, the court will issue a Transparency Order that clearly outlines what information can and cannot be reported. Personal details such as children's names, addresses, schools, dates of birth, and photographs remain protected. Judges retain the final decision on reporting and can adapt transparency arrangements to suit the circumstances of each family.

The initiative provides reassurance that family privacy remains a priority while promoting greater openness and public confidence in the family justice system. Families can ask questions, seek guidance from their legal representatives, and raise concerns with the court throughout the process.

Right First Time UK Campaign

Family Court Transparency

Understanding the Family Court; Protecting Family's!

Increase awareness among parents and family members about Family Court transparency reporting and reassure them that privacy protections remain in place.

All information should be shared and easy to access for parents, and things explained. 

The Family Court is introducing greater openness through carefully managed reporting by accredited journalists and legal bloggers. Transparency Orders ensure that children and families remain protected while helping the public better understand the work of the courts.

Key changes we wish to see;

1. For Family Court reporting is becoming more open and transparent.
2. Children's identities and sensitive family information remain protected.
3. Transparency Orders clearly define what can and cannot be reported.
4. Judges balance openness with the welfare and privacy of families.
5. Families can ask questions and should understand their rights throughout the process.
6. Administrators to be accountable if they withhold information or don't compile the information / 
7. evidence parents sent in correctly for judges. 
8. Judges to be accountable for their decisions were it is found to harm children and relationships with parents. 
9. All information/ evidence sent in should be read by judges not of their choice!  

Awareness

Campainors for changes coming together 

FAMILY COURTS 

Fathers Rights UK 

Fathers Rights UK is a campaign and information platform 

focused on supporting fathers who are navigating separation, child contact disputes, parental alienation concerns, and the family court system. 

An advocacy movement aimed at helping children maintain meaningful relationships with both parents after separation.

There Mission

To help children continue or rebuild relationships with their fathers where those relationships have been disrupted by 

conflict, parental alienation, or family court proceedings. 

Children generally benefit from the involvement of both 

parents in their lives.

Campaign Objectives

1. Shared Parenting

Their primary campaign calls for a legal presumption of shared parenting after separation, with equal parenting time as the starting point where there is no evidence of abuse or harm. The campaign argues that fathers should have equal status and responsibilities in raising children following family breakdown.

2. Open Family Courts

The campaign advocates for greater transparency in family courts, arguing that family proceedings should be more open and accountable, similar to criminal and magistrates' courts. They believe increased transparency would improve public confidence and oversight.

3. Enforcement of Court Orders

They seek stronger enforcement when court orders relating to child arrangements are breached, arguing that existing sanctions are often ineffective.

4. Raising Awareness of Parental Alienation

The site regularly highlights parental alienation as a significant issue affecting father-child relationships and campaigns for greater recognition of its impact on children and families.

Love v law

Behind closed doors, the UK’s multibillion-pound, secretive family courts are enabling long-term 

emotional and domestic abuse, while others profit from the breakdown of families. In some tragic cases, this has led to devastating outcomes, including loss of life. The very institutions meant to 

protect our most vulnerable are 

instead contributing to trauma, broken homes, forced poverty, and stolen childhoods. This is more than just a film. It’s a movement to give voice to those the system has ignored and failed. With over 8 million people 

affected in the UK alone—and many tragically no longer with us, driven to suicide by a system that offered no protection—this isn’t just a broken system. The failures are so widespread, many now question whether it was ever designed to serve families at all. Our mission: to expose the truth, 

amplify the voices of victims, and demand justice and reform—for the sake of every child still trapped inside this system.

https://lovevlaw.com/

Voice of the child 

argues that family courts, legal professionals, and support 

agencies should 

focus more on the long-term needs of children, encourage 

cooperative parenting after 

separation, and ensure that children's voices are properly heard. They campaign for reforms to parts of the UK family justice system that it believes are not 

always serving children's best interests.

https://www.voiceofthechild.org.uk/

1. Children's Welfare Comes First

The organisation believes that:

• A child's long-term welfare should be the most important consideration in family law decisions.
• Children's wishes and feelings should be heard, but balanced against other welfare factors.
• Children should maintain meaningful relationships with both parents whenever it is safe and appropriate. 

2. Support for Co-Parenting

The site strongly promotes:

• Co-parenting as the preferred approach after separation.
• Early development of co-parenting plans to reduce conflict.
• Helping parents reach agreements that focus on the child's best interests rather than litigation. 

3. Criticism of the Family Justice System

The organisation argues that some parts of the family law system need reform. It is particularly 

critical of:

• The way some family court processes operate.
• The role and performance of CAFCASS.
• Adversarial legal approaches that can increase conflict between parents. 

4. Gender-Neutral Approach

A major theme is that:

• Abuse and coercive control can be committed by either men or women.
• Family law should be evidence-based and child-focused rather than influenced by gender-based assumptions.
• Children's welfare should 

        remain the central concern 

        regardless of parental gender. 

5. Research and Public Awareness

They say it conducts 

research into family law and 

gathers information to:

• Better understand how current systems affect children.
• Inform parents, professionals, and policymakers.
• Encourage reforms that put children at the centre of decision-making.

Private Law Pathfinder 

Pilot – Key Findings

The Ministry of Justice's Private Law Pathfinder Pilot was introduced to improve the experience of children and families involved in private family court proceedings, particularly where domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns are present. The pilot was initially launched in Dorset and North Wales and focuses on a more child-centred and investigative approach to decision-making.

Main Findings

• Children's voices were heard more effectively, with greater focus on understanding the child's experiences and needs during proceedings. 
• Many parents reported a better court 
• experience than under the previous system, 
• particularly due to earlier information gathering and clearer identification of risks and welfare concerns. 
• Domestic abuse survivors valued the increased support available, including specialist services and efforts to reduce re-traumatisation, although some felt further improvements were still needed. 
• Cases were generally resolved more quickly, helping reduce delays for children and families. 
• Some participants highlighted concerns about inconsistent multi-agency working, with reports that safeguarding issues were not always handled consistently across agencies. 
• A number of parents felt that, in some cases, the process moved too quickly, limiting opportunities to fully explain their experiences and concerns. 

Overall Conclusion

The research found that the Pathfinder approach has made significant progress towards creating a more child-focused, trauma-informed family justice 

system. While challenges remain, particularly around consistency and inter-agency cooperation, the pilot demonstrated positive improvements in both the 

experiences of families and the efficiency of the court process.

Source: UK Ministry of Justice – Private Law Pathfinder Pilot Research Report

Reform family justice UK

Reform family justice UK is a campaign to help 

amplify the voices of non-resident parents who suffer an injustice from being alienated from their child and financially struggling to get legal advice and 

assistance to go through the court system to obtain a child arrangements order. 

To compound matters the statutory child 

maintenance scheme treats 

non-resident parents with no empathy or 

understanding and are quick to carry out 

enforcement without fully understanding the financial  circumstances of the non-resident parent. 

The aim is to speak truth to power!

https://www.instagram.com/reformfamilyjusticeuk

 National Homelessness Campaigns

Crisis

The UK's leading homelessness charity runs multiple campaigns focused on:

• Ending homelessness across Great Britain
• Restoring housing benefits to match real rental costs
• Ending homelessness in Scotland by 2040
• Ending homelessness in Wales
• Influencing government policy on housing, benefits, health, and rough sleeping. 

Website: Crisis Campaigns

Shelter

Shelter campaigns for:

• More social housing
• Renters' rights
• Prevention of homelessness
• Action on temporary accommodation and housing shortages

Recent Shelter research highlighted that social housing waiting lists could take over a century to clear at current building rates.

Website: Shelter UK

Homeless Link

Current campaigns include:

• Breaking the Cycle (shift funding from crisis responses to prevention)
• Keep Our Doors Open (funding for frontline homelessness services)
• Advocacy around support for non-UK nationals experiencing homelessness. 

Website: Homeless Link Campaigns

Homewards

Founded by Prince William.

Goals:

• Make homelessness "rare, brief and unrepeated"
• Pilot solutions in six UK locations
• Use data and AI to identify people at risk before they become homeless

The initiative recently launched the Homelessness Data Lab with major corporate partners.

Website: Homewards

Centrepoint

Campaigns focus on:

• Youth homelessness prevention
• Support for young people leaving care
• Affordable housing for under-25s

Website: Centrepoint

St Mungo's

Campaigns include:

• Rough sleeping reduction
• Mental health support
• Drug and alcohol recovery services
• Housing-first approaches

Website: St Mungo's

The Big Issue

Campaigns around:

• Poverty reduction
• Homelessness prevention
• Social investment
• Employment opportunities for vulnerable people

Website: The Big Issue

Government Campaigns & Strategies

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The government published A National Plan to End Homelessness in December 2025.

The strategy includes:

• Universal prevention
• Targeted prevention
• Crisis prevention
• Improved emergency responses
• Long-term recovery support. 

Document: National Plan to End Homelessness

Public Awareness & Reporting Campaigns

StreetLink

A public campaign encouraging people to report rough sleepers so outreach teams can offer support.

Website: StreetLink

LandAid

Works with property and construction industries to:

• Fund accommodation projects
• Prevent youth homelessness
• Support Homewards initiatives. 

Website: LandAid

MK Homeless & Community Support CIC
Homeless Heroes - A Short Film Documentary Part 2 by Fitzy & Ryan

MK Homeless & Community Support CIC

https://www.facebook.com/Mkhomeless
 

MK Homeless & Community Support CIC is a community outreach group based in Milton Keynes, UK, focused on helping homeless people, rough sleepers, vulnerable adults, and families in crisis. They provide direct support such as food, clothing, emergency essentials, outreach visits, and practical help for people facing hardship.

They also work to give vulnerable people a voice by sharing real stories, raising awareness about homelessness, and building stronger community support. Their goal is to make sure people who are struggling are seen, supported, and treated with dignity.

In simple terms, they are a local support organisation trying to help homeless and vulnerable people in Milton Keynes by providing both immediate help and long-term community support.

To change how homless are treated ! 

help comes befor money  

fairness, 

Accountability, 

Safeguarding,   

Transparency,

Reforms, 
Improvement across public services!

Have a campaign?

Share it with us and join our growing community.

Fix the Foundations No One Left Behind!

 Failures in Public      
Services can create a chain Reaction:

When healthcare, housing, education, welfare, addiction support, mental health services,policing, social care, and employment support do not work properly, 

people lose the support that keeps them stable.

A person might lose their job because they cannot access healthcare or childcare. Then they fall behind on rent. If housing services are slow or 

underfunded, they may be evicted. 

Without a stable address, 

it becomes harder to get work, claim benefits, attend school, or receive medical care. This can lead to debt, poor health, family breakdown, 

homelessness, and long-term poverty.

Service failures do not usually cause just one problem. 

They often connect:

Poor education limits job opportunities.

Low wages or unemployment make rent unaffordable.

Weak welfare support leaves people without money during crisis.

Lack of mental health care can worsen addiction, isolation, and unemployment.

Shortage of social housing pushes people into unsafe or expensive housing.

Poor legal and advice services mean people cannot challenge eviction, debt, or benefit mistakes.

These problems reinforce each other. 

Poverty makes it harder to access services, and failed services make poverty worse. 

Homelessness is often the visible result of many earlier failures happening at once.

A strong society needs services that intervene early, before people reach crisis point. 

When services fail, the cost is not only financial. 

It is paid through poorer health, lost education, broken families, crime, unemployment, homelessness, and reduced hope.

Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a future.

No one should lose their home, health, education, or opportunity because the support they needed was unavailable when it mattered most.

A stronger society starts with stronger services.

Let's stop people reaching crisis point and start giving them the support they deserve.

The battle for power never ended — it simply changed form.

Once, power was taken by the sword — kings and queens fought wars for land, money, and control. 

Families today often face hardship not through force, but through systems, processes, delays and decisions that can feel impossible to 

challenge alone.

The history of UK 

systemic failures and 

institutional 

breakdowns—and the case for 

lasting reform

The public should not spend years proving the 
system is wrong.

The system should have to prove it is right.


This organisation is built with
remembrance, respect, and 
purpose for people whose lives were deeply affected by failures within the system.

May 18, 2026

The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe

https://annwiddecombe.substack.com/p/weekend-widdy-8f2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2vefql&triedRedirect=true&fbclid=Iwb21leAR6UjdjbGNrBHpSM2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHhzlNUrKBCpiLu3gL6tUp4n-RrpX6t7cL9z14gqiTJZQI5QeAUbTe-gNPa8N_aem_YWdncwAeHCcsk4e0I6YT1xeiu_aj&brid=YWdncwGodhnrRYPSbh4Hsdxc3ZLX&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e232_tv2_tp1_a1dennhb6vongo

A recent BBC report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8wjn98y85o highlights the iniquitous practices of the Child Maintenance Service, something to which I and others have been trying to draw attention for some time and something which has caused suicides and nervous breakdowns over several decades. I therefore print below an article I wrote last year which explains some of the impact.

There is a scandal waiting to explode which is even bigger than that of the Post Office and its defective 

computer programmes: a scandal which also involves suicides, imprisonment and wrecked lives; a scandal which has actually damaged our armed services; a scandal of which a succession of ministers has been fully aware and done nothing; a scandal which the law itself is unable to deal with because the law itself forbids it.

That scandal is the operation of the Child Maintenance Service, formerly the Child Support Agency. Its job is to make sure that, where family break up occurs or where a child is conceived as a result of casual sex and the mother turns to the benefits system, the absent parent pays towards the maintenance of the child. The CMS calculates what is owed on the basis of the absent parent’s income. So far so worthy.

Unfortunately, the practice has proved very different from the theory. In theory if the CMS calculates the wrong amount the paying parent can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. The word mandatory would suggest that the CMS has no choice in the matter but apparently it can and does refuse. There is an opportunity to go to a tribunal but once a liability order has been issued and from that point on, no matter how substantial the 

evidence, it becomes legally unchallengeable in a court of law with the judge or magistrate forced to uphold the order.

A parent can face bankruptcy, the forced sale of a house, homelessness and even imprisonment with absolutely no opportunity to present irrefutable evidence that the amount being demanded is wrong.

Staggeringly the National Audit Office can tell members of Parliament that the CMS collects money that is not owed and the CMS can admit to a Parliamentary Select Committee that it inflates demands for payments and still nothing is done. Yet when a paying parent (usually but not always the man) wants to contest the amount demanded, he cannot present his evidence before a court of law because the law actually states that once a 

liability order is issued a judge or magistrate has no power to consider its validity and must enforce it anyway.

I cannot think of any other circumstances in which a citizen cannot turn to the courts to right an injustice 

inflicted by the state or in which a court must simply rubber stamp a disputed decision but Section33(4) of the Child Support Act 1991 specifically prevents courts from questioning CMS calculations.

It is a bitter irony in all of this that according to the National Audit Office there is some £4m that has been 

collected but not even distributed to the parents ( usually mothers) who are looking after the child.

The human cost is terrible. Some have been driven to suicide by the ceaseless, bullying, unpayable demands based on non-existent income or the wrong HMRC year or completely false assumptions. Members of the armed forces are badly affected as they receive extra pay for particular missions, which can cause temporary increases in income, but those temporary increases can then become embedded in CMS calculations and be impossible to have removed.

One Wing Commander has said that he actually had to abort an operation because the systems operator was too stressed by a lengthy dispute with the CMS to perform his duties, while army welfare officers have stated that men have become suicidal and others have left because they cannot stand the strain.

Sadly, from all walks of life some have found refuge in death. Others have become mentally ill. Some are still fighting like tigers but nobody really wants to know.

One man denied paternity of the child and asked for a DNA test. It was refused on the laughable grounds of data protection and he was told to pay anyway. In another case the CMS took money alleged to be owed by the father from his child’s savings account. In yet another a man was suddenly told he owed money for an adult child. In too many cases the CMS will admit on the telephone that something is wrong, promise to sort it out and then issue the liability order anyway.

That is what happened to Noel Willcox who has been in a protracted fight with the CMS for some years. In 2017, the CMS used the wrong tax year to assess income resulting in a liability which was beyond his means of payment. Willcox therefore sent in all the correct information and asked for a mandatory reconsideration. He heard no more and by 2021 he was again asking for one, this time supported by a tribunal but still nothing happened. Along the way he had involved his MP, who wrote to the Minister, but in October 2021 the CMS 

issued a liability order and the following February tried to send him to prison. It took him till July 2023 to get confirmation from the Information Commissioner’s Office that the sums were incorrect and misleading.

So that was it, then? Nope. A couple of weeks later Willcox was threatened with enforcement action and in September they sent bailiffs.

He is now trying to get on the front foot with an injunction but it is a simple fact that if the courts had been 

allowed to look at his evidence instead of being compelled to accept the liability order as the final arbiter, Noel Willcox would have been exonerated years earlier. He is tough but men, women and marriages have crumbled under such state- sanctioned persecution.

Take the case of Johnny O’Neill who posted a message on Facebook to draw attention to his situation before taking his own life. The CMS, dear Heaven, actually chased the debt after his death and then wrote to thank him for his death certificate which had been sent by his mother! Officials have admitted that they took more than 40% of wages, itself unlawful.

Then there was the appalling case of Gavin Briggs who committed suicide after fourteen months of being pursued by the CMS. Officials there had inflated his income to £76,000 which was an exaggeration of £26,000! They also claimed unpaid maintenance sums of £16,000, which subsequently they admitted to be false.

Nor is it only the men who suffer. Stacey Harris is a mother, who when she and her husband broke up, was in a job which involved periods away from home while he was working from that home so it made sense for her to become the non- resident parent, a role overwhelmingly taken by men. Pursued by the CMS for £20,000 she turned up at court to find they were trying to increase it to £50,000.

There is a fightback. Craig Bulman is asking for a ruling from the courts that the justices’ inability to challenge the calculations at a liability order hearing is incompatible with Article 6 ECHR (the right to a fair trial/hearing) and is inconsistent with the separation of powers by making CMS judge, jury and executioner.

Reform UK, so far the only political party to take the matter seriously, is proposing to remove completely the prohibition on courts looking at the calculations but it needs to be in government to do it. Both the New Culture Forum and Reform for GB News have made documentaries on the subject. Yet in government itself there is apathy. Indeed when Mel Stride was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under the last Tory administration, he made life even easier for the CMS by allowing it to go to the County Courts as well for summary judgements, again with their being wholly unable to examine any case against .

Ian Briggs, the father of the Gavin mentioned above, is pressing the police, so far unsuccessfully , to bring fraud charges against CMS officials. Meanwhile campaigners are drawing up a list of all those who have taken their lives after being literally stressed to death by the Child Maintenance Service.

Of course this campaign lacks a hard-hitting TV drama but if Simon Hunter, the head of the CMS, does not get his act together soon he and especially his immediate predecessor, Arlene Sugden, could end up as vilified as Paula Vennells, CEO of the Post Office.

At the very least, we need a full Public Inquiry. And I do not often call for one of those.

As long ago as 2005 I published a novel, Father Figure, which dealt with the theme of a man pursued by the CMS and to this day I still get letters from readers to say how it reflects their own horrors.

Meanwhile there really is a course that could be adopted. Freeze all contested Liability Orders, together with any orders for enforcement already issued. Set up a special Court to examine them and the evidence on which they were based and, case by case, resolve the mess and give some hope to anyone who might be contemplating climbing Beachy Head.

Oh, and er…..what about actually paying the parents with care the £4m funds collected but undistributed or whatever the amount may be now?.

Ann Widdecombe talks about Child Maintenance Service

• Problems and disputes with the UK Child Maintenance Service
• How the case of Lee Windsor was handled in the Magistrates’ Court
• Ann Widdecombe giving her opinion 
• criticism of child maintenance enforcements 

Horizon Post Office Scandal

The BIGGEST Scandal!' - Parents LOCKED UP over Child Maintenance 
failings
 

Ann Widdecombe

YouTube Chanel's 

Official Ann Widdecombe website (WiddyWeb)

• About Ann Widdecombe
• Events and appearances page
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• TheyWorkForYou parliamentary record
• Reform UK official website
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