About Kith and Kids

Kith and Kids is an innovative charity set up by three families in 1969, all of whom are still involved today. It helps families with one or more members who have a disability towards empowerment and social inclusion for the whole family.

Under the ethos of self-help, participating families can act as Trustees, help with volunteer training and projects and most importantly enjoy the mutual support that families give to each other. This principle of the founding families still holds true.

Many Kith and Kids members have learning disabilities as well as physical disabilities. It deals with specific conditions such as autism, epilepsy and Asperger's Syndrome

Kith and Kids provides a wide range of services for children and young people who have a disability. School holidays are often the most difficult times for the young person and their family, when their social exclusion is at its height. Through difficulties of mobility, some of their young people would have virtually no social interaction apart from school and their immediate family.

In response, Kith and Kids runs its 2:1 Social Development Project and Summer Camp. With support from two volunteers for every young person with a disability, these projects offer leisure and learning activities which enhance the self-esteem, daily living and social skills of participants.

Our history

Over its 30-year history, Kith and Kids has a strong record of development and innovation. Its work models, which recognize the centrality of personal relationships in an individual's development, have greatly influenced the work of the sector.

Kith and Kids has spawned groups and projects as diverse as Action 19+, Contact-a-Family and Disability Law and worked with Scope and Mencap in promoting the rights of people with disabilities.