News

Positive storybooks featuring disabled characters
December 2011
Scope's 'In the Picture campaign' raises awareness of the need to include disabled children in the books they read

Sing the e-petition!
December 2011
Save Independent Living Fund from closure (save ILF)

HemiHelp Christmas Card competition
November 2011
Have a look at the Christmas cards that our members created for our 2011 competition.

Help a product design student find everyday living solutions
10 October 2011
Email HemiHelp member William Holland-Leavens with details of everyday tasks you find difficult.

Grit and determination see Ben succeed against the odds
2 September 2011
HemiHelp member Ben Nutkins is destined for great things after achieving top marks at sixth form college

HemiHelp monthly news roundup
25 August 2011
Catch up on all the latest news on welfare, health, education here.

HemiHelp monthly news roundup
14 July 2011
Catch up on all the latest news on welfare, health, education here.

HemiHelp publishes response to SEN and disability green paper
10 June 2011
Read our response to the government's Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability Green Paper, which was informed by consultation with HemiHelp members.

HemiHelp monthly news roundup
17 May 2011
Catch up on all the latest news on welfare, health, education here.

HemiHelp monthly news roundup
15 April 2011
Catch up on all the latest news on welfare, health, education here.

Employment training for young people in London
30 March 2011
Scope has launched First impressions, first experiences - an exciting new programme for young disabled people (aged 16-24) in Tower Hamlets and surrounding London boroughs who are not currently in employment, education or training.

Creating one-handed musical instruments
14 March 2011
The Digital Exploration Centre, working with HemiHelp, Ars Electronica, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is challenging inventors to design and build one-handed instruments that emulate those in a classical orchestra.

HemiHelp in the news!
15 February 2011
See HemiHelp members talking about how hemiplegia has affected their families' lives on BBC News online and in the Birmingham Mail.

News update
2 February 2011
Read a summary of the latest welfare, health and education news affecting families of disabled children.

Help improve the CBBC website - and earn £50 cash!
20 September 2010
Researchers are looking for children aged 7-11 with mild/moderate physical and cognitive disabilities to take part in a review of CBBC's website.

Assisting Hand Assessment course - last few places remaining
4 August 2010
Great Ormond Street/The Institute of Child Health have a few places left on the Assisting Hand Assessment course they're hosting in September.

Funding granted for Northern Ireland Play at ICT project
28 July 2010
AbilityNet has received funding for a 'Play at ICT' project for families in Northern Ireland. They will offer participants funding, training and assessments as part of the programme.

Government launches 'Spending Challenge' website 14 July 2010 Earlier this month the government launched it's new Spending Challenge website. Comments made here will inform spending policy for the next four years so make sure you have your say.

Jacquetta Wheeler Sunday Mail interview
28 March 2010
Model and HemiHelp patron Jacquetta Wheeler talks to You magazine about why she's running the London Marathon to raise funds for HemiHelp.

O2 offer £5m to young people keen to make a difference
16 March 2010
Telecommunications firm O2 has launched Think Big, a scheme offering young people £300 grants to start community projects. If you have a great idea for your community, why not get involved?

Take a look at HemiHelp's new information sheets
11 March 2010
Reworked to reflect directly the experience of those affected by hemiplegia, our new information sheets offer up to date guidance on such topics as staying active, accessing DLA, seeking treatment and everyday living.

Join campaign to ensure all disabled people have chance to vote
09 March 2010
Disability charity Scope is calling for all local authorities to make sure their polling stations are accessible for disabled people. Read more about the campaign and fill in the Polls Apart survey on its website.

Changes to benefits explained
16 February 2010
Disability charity Contact a Family has provided easy-to-follow guidance on new government initiatives and updates to the benefits system.

Climbing film wins award 05 February 2010 Production company Bamboo Chicken has won a prestigious award for its new film 'Welsh Connections'. Included in the DVD package is the 15-minute feature 'To the Rainbow', which follows the return to climbing of Paul Pritchard - whose acquired hemiplegia was caused by a head injury sustained on a climbing trip.

Research on traditional therapies underway 20 January 2010 HemiHelp contact Dr Charikleia Sinani and MSc student Victoria Place are conducting new research on the effects of traditional therapies - particularly physiotherapy. They are looking for parents of children aged 4-11 with hemiplegia to take part in the study.

The Cerebra research unit needs your opinions to shape research
20 September
The Cerebra research unit would like children and parents to help shape their research - Is there is a treatment or therapy you would like to know more about? Or what evidence is there is that a specific treatment works? Post your comments on their online forum, following the link above.

Epilepsy Action launch petition against generic drugs
07 August
In January 2010, new dispensing regulations will mean that pharmacists will be expected to change brand named drugs to generic brands. Epilepsy Action is concerned about this. Unless epilepsy is excluded from the legislation, thousands of people with epilepsy could have their medication switched - which could cause adverse side effects. To sign the petition, click on the link above.

Had a stroke? Have your say about the services that are available to you
20 July 09
To learn about the effectiveness of services, the NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE (NAO) is asking people who have have had a stroke (or who care for someone who has had a stroke) to complete a short online questionnaire.

Disabled parents to be
01 July 2009 
New study from DPPI on the lack of information about choices and services for disabled parents-to-be.

Getting into work
12 June 2009
Working Families have produced a guide for parents of disabled children returning to work.
For your copy, call 020 7253 7243 or email office@workingfamilies.org.uk

One-handed parenting guide
18 May 2009
Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International (DPPI) have produced a new guide called 'One handed parenting: a practical guide for new parents'. You can order it from DPPI via their website or on 0800 018 4730. It is available free to disabled parents and at a charge of £6 to others.

Have your say on the SEN assessment process - take part in the Lamb Inquiry
18 May 2009
If you are the parent of a child with special educational needs or you work with children, schools or families, don't miss your chance to have your say on the SEN assessment process. Children's views are also welcome.

News archive

Constraint induced movement therapy questionnaire
29 July 2008
Children with hemiplegia are the focus of a new research project into Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.

Childhood stroke "may be as common as childhood cancer"
1 July 2008
Childhood stroke, which can cause hemiplegia, "may be as common as childhood cancer", according to a researcher launching a project that hopes to address some of the gaps in our understanding of childhood stroke.

Get One Handed Hints in HemiHelp's Spring Newsletter
14 April 2008
HemiHelp's latest newsletter is out now, packed with useful information, in-depth articles, news and updates.

Help us with our book on hemiplegia... and win John Lewis vouchers!
10 March 2008
HemiHelp is producing a new book on hemiplegia, and we'd like you to fill in a survey to tell us about your own experiences.

HemiHelp response to the suspension of Disability Living Allowance payments to Danny Johnson-Green
7 February 2008
HemiHelp was concerned to learn about the Department for Work and Pensions' decision to stop Disability Living Allowance payments to Danny Johnson-Green, who has hemiplegia, because he took part in a charity cycling event.

HemiHelp Post-18 get-together in London, 9 February
28 January 2008
Come along to the post-18 meetup in Starbucks in Oxford.

HemiHelp Post-18 get-together in London: 1 December 2007
22 November 2007
Fancy a friendly pub meeting with others who have hemiplegia?

Get your hands on our Autumn Newsletter!
October 2007
This issue of the HemiHelp Newsletter is all about Grants and Benefits.

Book now for October's Conference for Professionals in Dublin
6 August 2007
HemiHelp is taking bookings for the Conference for Professionals in Dublin on 25 October 2007.

Come to our Music Workshop at Stepping Stones School!
20 July 2007
HemiHelp is holding a Music Workshop at Stepping Stones School this October - register your interest now!

The HemiHelp Summer Newsletter is out now!
13 July 2007
The latest issue of the HemiHelp Newsletter is all about music.

A message from HemiHelp's Chief Executive
29 June 2007
Find out what HemiHelp has achieved in the past year, and how we plan to develop in the future.

Join our Teddy Hunt!
June 2007
We've been really careless and lost ten HemiHelp teddy bears somewhere on this website. Can you help us to find them?

HemiHelp announces new Royal Patron
29 March 2007
HemiHelp is delighted to announce that HRH Princess Alexandra has agreed to become our Royal Patron.