The extra money will fund 10,000 extra respite places for families of disabled children, as well as supported internship programmes and other placements
The Sun’s ‘Give It Back’ campaign has been urging the government to give back the annual funding cut from hundreds of thousands of families, which rose to £573 million last year.
£30 million will be given to councils for 10,000 additional respite places starting from April. The remaining £18 million will be put into the supported internship programme.
Only 89% of pupils with special needs go on to either sustained education, employment or apprenticeships after school, compared to 94% of those with no similar needs.
Victoria Newton, editor in chief of The Sun, commented on the campaign victory, saying: “The Sun always fights against injustice and will continue campaigning on behalf of families who urgently need these vital funds that provide essential services for children with disabilities until we have closed the funding gap.”
Will Quince, the government’s children’s minister, praised The Sun’s campaign in a column for the story, saying: “The Sun’s Give It Back campaign has made a massive difference, raising awareness and highlighting that sometimes not every child gets the support they need.”
Amanda Batten, chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, said: “It is great news for disabled children and their families.”
“Thank you to The Sun and your readers”, she added.
The ‘Give It Back’ campaign has previously been backed by chancellor Rishi Sunak, who thanked The Sun and its readers for campaigning on important issues around special educational needs and disabilities, as well as model Ellie Goldstein and TV presenter Carol Vorderman.
