About us
Imagine this. Fifty years ago, you are the mother of two young boys. Both children have muscular dystrophy. Your husband, unable to cope, has abandoned you all. You have no money, no resources, nowhere to turn. You are desperate.
Lifeline 4 Kids helps such distressed families. The charity has worked tirelessly to help children regardless of race, creed or colour who have problems and are aged from birth to eighteen.
Fifty one years on, the same philosophy drives our volunteers. All money raised goes to help the children. Lifeline 4 Kids receives no government funding, has no employees, minimal expenses, no office rent or administrative costs. Members pay all their own expenses. Meeting in each other’s homes, they read and approve appeals and allocate investigations. Fundraising goes on continuously.
Cash grants are never awarded. Instead the charity supplies the help needed. Many millions of pounds have been used to buy equipment for hospitals and homes, purpose built wheelchairs and specialty aids. A hoist may be installed to facilitate getting a heavy child into a bath, an adjustable lifting and turning bed provided to give a teenager independence. Any project to improve the quality of life for children born with, or who have acquired a handicap or disability, can be undertaken.
David was a 13-year-old boy without arms or legs whose mother had taken thalidomide. He needed a special wheelchair. Over the past thirty years he has lived a good life and become a valued friend.
A child who cannot speak or write might receive the means to communicate. One who cannot walk might get the special wheelchair needed. Blind children receive tactile books so they can use their fingers to feel what characters look like. Nowadays means are available to allow children to integrate in mainstream school and keep up with their peers. But this must be paid for.
Adventure playgrounds need equipment suited to children who have limited physical ability. Specially adapted swings, slides, soft surfaces and adapted tricycles enable children to get out and use these playgrounds for the first time.
Hospitals need intensive care cots for babies with problems. The committee has also funded state of the art scanners, gamma cameras and imaging tables to check on children with a variety of diseases.
Lifeline 4 Kids receives many requests for help every day. Limited government resources mean that demand will always exceed the means to pay for special items. Although we have fewer members than in the early days we now help many more children than ever. The committee has been so encouraged by the big-heartedness of friends and the public over the last fifty years. Imagine receiving letters not only from parents but also from the children themselves, which simply say — “I can never thank you enough, but thank you forever.”
We are determined never to let a child’s cry for help go unheard.
OUR GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
EACH APPLICATION IS INDIVIDUALLY REGISTERED BEFORE WE CAN SEND AN APPLICATION FORM SO PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY.
PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE UNLESS YOUR ENQUIRY IS AN EMERGENCY – WE DO NOT HAVE STAFF TO DEAL WITH CALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION VIA THE EMAIL LINK ON THIS PAGE.
WE ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT.
APPLICATION FORMS CANNOT BE DOWNLOADED FROM THIS SITE AND WILL NOT BE SUBMITTED UNTIL WE RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW:-
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CHILD you should indicate the SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT and COST, brief factual information about the child including FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, HEALTH CONDITION and FAMILY NAME, POSTAL AND EMAIL ADDRESS and CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER. This should be sent via the email link below.
FOR SCHOOLS OR ORGANISATIONS requiring specialist items for the benefit of special needs children please give name of school/organisation, address, contact name and telephone number together with requirements, approximate cost and the number and age group of children likely to benefit.
PLEASE READ OUR CRITERIA BELOW CAREFULLY AND PROVIDE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION BY EMAIL.
Email: appeals@lifeline4kids.org
OUR CRITERIA: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
The age group of children we support is from birth to 18 years old.
Each request will be acknowledged and provided it meets our criteria an application form will be sent by email or by post. (Please specify which is preferred). The form contains questions relating to the child/children’s medical condition and requires backup information from health professionals together with a financial statement of the applicant/organisation.
After we receive the completed application form the appeal will be personally investigated by one of our members.
The majority of appeals are discussed and decided upon at our monthly meetings. If approved, a maximum sum is allocated and we take full responsibility for the purchase and safe delivery of the approved item.
Emergency and welfare appeals where possible, are dealt with immediately after receiving a completed application form. Our decision to help can be made within days if vital. We do try our best to deal with emergency appeals as quickly and efficiently as possible, but please remember, we work on an entirely voluntary basis and we have no paid staff. That way we can spend more on the children we have pledged to help.
WE ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT AND DO NOT FUND:
Therapy or Treatments costs.
Building or Garden works (including fencing)
Outside garden equipment such as trampolines (apart from school playground applications)
Carpets/floor covering
Furniture (unless specialised)
Ovens/Cookers
Refrigerators (unless for medical needs)
Washing Machines (unless for medical needs, i.e. incontinence)
Clothing
Shoes (unless specialist)
Child care costs
Vehicles
Transport Costs
Tuition/School Lessons or Fees
Driving Lessons
Recreational activities
Holidays
iPad APPLICATIONS:
WE ARE INUNDATED WITH APPLICATIONS FOR iPads AND NORMALLY ONLY CONSIDER FUNDING A 16GB iPad FOR A CHILD OVER THE AGE OF FIVE ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS:-
1) That your child’s school recommends an iPad with one of the recognised communications apps such as Proloquo2go or MyTalkTools as your child’s only means of communication.
2) The iPad must be for the exclusive use of your child.
3) The application must be in conjunction and collaboration with your child’s school. If approved, the school must agree to purchase the iPad from our approved supplier and accept reimbursement from Lifeline 4 Kids.
4) Appropriate ‘apps’ should be specified and must be in use at school.
5) Your child should be able to use the iPad as a communications device without the need of adult supervision.
6) A suitable robust iPad case must be specified and may also be funded subject to our applications procedure.
YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL MUST AGREE TO ACCEPT THESE CONDITIONS BEFORE WE CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM.
*ENSURE THAT YOU FOLLOW OUR GUIDELINES AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE IF REQUESTING AN APPLICATION FORM*
- WE NEVER AWARD CASH GRANTS.