Families need more than funding.
Find support for siblings, carers and different disabilities, as well as transport and activities. The directory includes free advice, peer groups, assessed support and paid or subsidised services. Each listing explains the type of help and any verification limits.
Siblings, including siblings of autistic children
Siblings may want someone to talk to, help understanding a condition or time with other people who share their experiences. YoungSibs provides information and advice for ages 7–17. Sibs also has parent guidance for younger siblings, adult sibling groups and free school resources.
A sibling does not need to be a young carer to need support. If a child takes on additional practical, personal or emotional caring responsibilities, a young-carer service can assess what help they need. Local age and referral rules differ; the listings explain these. Siblings who are autistic or disabled themselves can need their own adjustments too.
Ask the school’s pastoral or SEND team about support during the school day. Ask providers whether siblings can join family activities; some specialist short-break clubs are for the disabled child only.
Children’s health and mental wellbeing
Find paediatric information, speech and language services, parent-carer emotional support and children’s mental-health services. Some support is available directly; other services need a professional referral or a place at a participating school.
Health-related funds can have narrow rules. For example, hospital-family accommodation needs a professional referral, and equipment funds may be closed even when a form remains visible. Check the status and eligibility in each listing.
Bradford family learning and early support
Bradford FYI’s family-programme pages helped us identify free learning and practical support. Use the direct programme links below to explore the council’s own offer, funded Togetherness learning, Home-Start support and the Families SEND Support Team.
Support for different disabilities and conditions
National charities can help Bradford families even when there is no local condition-specific group. Coverage now includes learning disabilities, Down syndrome, deafness and sight loss, epilepsy, complex disability, rare chromosome/gene conditions, undiagnosed genetic conditions, EDS/hypermobility, neuromuscular conditions, ataxia, Tourette syndrome, ADHD and autism.
Advice, training and peer support are labelled separately from grants. Where a fund is paused or only signposts to another trust, that is stated in the listing.
Parent carers and other family carers
Look for help with benefits, assessments, breaks, wellbeing and planning backup care. A family-support provider can help you navigate services when you are unsure where to begin.
Accessible transport and help with travel costs
Transport entries cover different needs: Motability leases and Foundation grants, booked accessible buses, NHS patient transport, healthcare travel-cost reimbursement, school travel assistance, concessionary passes and railway assistance. Eligibility for one does not automatically qualify a family for another.
For wheelchair journeys, ask about the vehicle, chair compatibility, escort support, booking notice and charges. Check clinical patient transport separately from everyday outings or school travel.
Disability clubs and after-school activities
Find specialist disability youth clubs, sport, childcare and short-break activities. Bradford routes include SNOOP, Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure, AWARE and Moor Time; wider West Yorkshire services are also listed.
Some listings are specialist disability provision; others offer particular SEND sessions within an inclusive programme. The description makes that distinction. Check age, timetable, personal-care support, 1:1 staffing, transport, fees and whether direct payments or an assessed short-break allocation can cover costs.
Adult support and support before diagnosis
Explore specialist condition organisations, adult mobility and respite grants, employment support and services that explicitly welcome people before diagnosis. Every listing retains its own age, location and evidence requirements.
Sources and dates
Open a listing’s details to see its official sources and verification notes. Research was checked on 12 October 2026. The directory does not automatically update timetables or funding status.
Health and hospital access
Find local hospital toilets, ward facilities, sensory support and NHS passport and care-plan templates.
Hospital access & health guides