Challengers Get Set To Launch Their Big Christmas Campaign

Published on: 14 Nov, 2025
Updated on: 20 Nov, 2025

Challengers, the Guildford children’s charity, will once again be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge – a nation-wide match-funding initiative that doubles every donation made through its Big Give page.

From midday on Tuesday, December 2, to midday on Tuesday, December 9, every pound contributed will go twice as far in supporting Challengers’ mission to transform the lives of disabled children, young people and their families through the power of play.

The target is to raise £44,000, which through the Big Give will be doubled to £88,000.

The charity’s campaign highlights an urgent need for disabled children, their siblings and parent carers to be given regular opportunities to rest and reset.

Challengers say the statistics speak clearly:

74 per cent of carers have felt stressed or anxious (Carers UK State of Caring Survey, 2025)
94 per cent of families have experienced a negative reaction to their disabled or seriously ill child while on a family outing (Activity Alliance, 2024)
65 per cent of parent carers say they are exhausted and/or burnt out, with 19 per cent (1 in 5) unable to remember the last time they had a break (Sense, 2023)
68 per cent of carers say they are unable to get a respite break when needed (Carers Trust 2023)

The charity says: “Emotional overwhelm, mental burnout, and reaching the point of crisis are too often part of the narrative for those with caring responsibilities.

“Challengers’ services offer essential respite for parents and carers of disabled children and young people. A chance to pause and exhale, knowing their child is safe, included, and valued in our care.”

The charity shares this story from a parent: “Challengers is the only place I can go with my daughter and access the world, other families, and much needed support. It is our lifeline. My daughter has multiple complex needs (both physical and ASD) and as she grows she will need to learn to be part of a community, or she will be isolated for life. This may sound dramatic, but it is true, and she is not the only child in this position.”

Challengers’ CEO, Gen Dearman, said: “The need for our work has never been greater. Social isolation is widespread, with 70 per cent of disabled young people experiencing chronic loneliness. Many families are being excluded from settings and services simply because of the complexity of their child’s needs. More than half of the families who use our services tell us this is their reality.

“The Big Give Christmas Challenge gives us an opportunity to make a greater impact in the lives of the disabled children, young people and families who rely on us.”

To make a donation, go to disability-challengers.org/big-give after midday on Tuesday, December 2, until midday Tuesday, December 9.

Challengers, based in Stoke Park, is a registered charity (1095134) dedicated to transforming the lives of disabled children, young people and their families through the power of play.

Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) that runs match funded campaigns for charities and special causes at key moments across the year.