Disabled Children’s Partnership
“Co-ordinating powerful communications on behalf of more than 130 organisations campaigning for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.”
Cause has worked with the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) since 2019. During this time, the coalition of parent groups and major charities has doubled in size to 130 members representing 1.3 million children. It has become the go-to organisation for media, influencers, and podcasters - including The Rest Is Politics - seeking information, stories, and commentary about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
We secured The Sun as media partner for the Give It Back campaign, which called on the Government to address a £573 million funding gap for health and social care for disabled children. The award-winning campaign not only ensured an apology from the Children’s Minister for the inadequate provision of support, but also garnered £48 million for respite care from then Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
During the pandemic, we focused journalists on the plight of disabled children through the DCP’s #LeftInLockdown campaign. The accompanying report was so impactful that its findings were quoted in both houses of Parliament, select committees, and in Downing Street coronavirus press conferences. The legacy of this work continues today as evidence in the ongoing Covid Inquiry.
Since 2021, we have worked to push SEND higher up the news agenda, enabling the DCP to lead conversations and pushback against harmful narratives. With SEND reform imminent, we recently launched the #FightForOrdinary campaign report, setting out recommendations for the government that received extensive national media coverage.
We collaborated on a long-form documentary, Disability And Me, with our contacts at Sky and First News. This powerful film centred on DCP research and featured disabled children sharing their stories of growing up in Britain. We were incredibly proud when it won the BAFTA for best Children’s Unscripted programme in 2025.
Our close relationship with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour resulted in an hour-long live SEND special earlier this year. Guests included the Schools Minister, the Children’s Commissioner, and most importantly, young people who voiced their opinions about how the system should work and questioned the politicians in the room.
“Cause Communications have put the voices of parents and young people at the centre of our work and our media coverage. The measurable outcomes of Cause Communications’ support are undeniable.They have not only amplified our voice but have also helped secure tangible policy wins and lasting media engagement, reinforcing the Disabled Children’s Partnership as a leading force in the sector. For any organisation looking to achieve meaningful impact through strategic communication, I cannot recommend Cause Communications highly enough.”
— Stephen Kingdom, Campaign Manager, Disabled Children’s Partnership