Last year, KEEN London received its first-ever legacy. A gift, left in the will of someone that wanted to support local children with additional needs and disabilities. We used that gift to invest in Rising Stars, our preschool service helping children with additional needs and disabilities, and their families, access support from the very earliest stages.
One year on, Rising Stars sessions have grown from once a fortnight to once a month. We have taken the time to review where we can reach more families and just this week are meeting new families at our new venue in Brixton.
We share a couple of examples of the difference a little early intervention and support can make for families not sure where to turn.
Abdul and his family
Abdul attended Rising Stars sessions with his mother, who engaged closely with the support on offer throughout the programme. Alongside the sessions themselves, she received practical guidance completing her son’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) application. She was also referred to Kineara, a charity supporting households at risk of homelessness or living in difficult temporary housing, for specialist housing advice and our Senior Service Coordinator provided a supporting letter to strengthen her housing application.
Zuri and his family
Zuri, an active child who loves running and climbing, attended Rising Stars regularly with his mother, Sina. The sessions gave him a safe space to explore and play, while Sina connected with staff and other parents. Through the programme, she received practical support completing Zuri’s DLA application and guidance navigating the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. She was also signposted to Autism Voice UK for ongoing support, information and peer networks.
Why early support matters
Abdul and Zuri’s stories are two among many. Every family who comes through Rising Stars arrives with different needs but what’s consistent is how much earlier support changes the road ahead. Help with education and health care plans, therapies, a housing referral, or simply knowing where to turn next can be the difference between a family struggling alone and a family who feels supported through a difficult time.
That’s a legacy that anyone can leave, not to one family, but to however many families we’re able to reach because that support exists.
This Remember A Charity Week, we’re inviting you to think about what a gift in your will could do. It doesn’t need to be big. Friends and family always come first. But if a cause like KEEN has mattered to you in your lifetime, a gift in your will is one way to make sure that support carries on for the families who need it next.