We’re so excited to be once again participating in the Big Give Christmas Challenge; a nationwide match-funding initiative that for one week only DOUBLES every donation made through its Big Give page.
Our target this year is to raise £44,000, which through the Big Give will be doubled to £88,000!
From midday Tuesday 2 December to midday Tuesday 9 December, every pound donated to Challengers through our Big Give Christmas Challenge page 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.
Family carers of disabled people spend over 40 hours a week providing care to their loved one, and more than a third (34%) say they don’t receive any support to be able to take a break (Sense 2023).
Parents of disabled children tirelessly advocate for their child’s rights, and their own needs too frequently become forgotten in the process. These families often reach the edge of exhaustion, desperate for a break.
“Jasmine has complex autism. ADHD and pica. Without Challengers, it would definitely be really hard not being able to bring her to a safe place, not having the support of the staff for us and her.
Being the parent carer of a child with disabilities can be incredibly difficult and it can be really lonely, but you build up this really nice network of friends. As long as you’ve got the right people with you, then it makes it better.”
Emma, Jasmine’s mum
Challengers doesn’t just provide an accessible, inclusive space for disabled children and young people to play and socialise, it offers essential respite for their parents and carers.
With your help, by donating to our Big Give ‘Give me a break’ campaign, you can make your money go further this year. For our children, it could be an activity they love; for our parent carers, a moment to breathe.
Why Your Support Matters
Chase is four years old and has been coming to Challengers for a year and a half. He’s autistic, non-verbal and has pica, a compulsion to eat non-food items. In this video, Chase’s mum Selina shares how vital Challengers has been — not only for Chase, but for the entire family.
“Challengers has been my saving grace. It’s been my life support. For me, if it wasn’t here, it wouldn’t be a life. Challengers is a lifeline for so many families.”
Selina, Chase’s mum
By doubling your donation, you’re helping to address a critical issue: 68% of carers said they needed more support to be able to look after their own health and wellbeing (Carers UK State of Caring Survey, 2025).
Parents of disabled children tirelessly advocate for their child’s rights, and their own needs too frequently become forgotten in the process. These families often reach the edge of exhaustion, desperate for a break.
What Double Donations Could Do
- £20 becomes £40: Funds an hour of care, ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and free to play.
- £37.50 becomes £75: Trains staff to safely administer medication, guaranteeing essential support for children at Challengers and enabling us to welcome ALL disabled children no matter the complexity of their additional needs.
- £75 becomes £150: Provides wellbeing, training and administrative support for parents and carers.
- £2,000 becomes £4,000: Fully funds a year of respite for a family with a disabled child at Challengers.
£44,000 becomes £88,000: Supports a disabled child’s entire journey with Challengers from 4-18 years – funding their full experience and changing their life.
“Sam comes back happy all the time and it just gives you that little bit of a break that you wouldn’t otherwise get. Supporting Challengers is vital because they’re so heavily reliant on donations. It’s an outlet for children like Sam to be able to just be themselves and play in a safe environment where they’re not judged. That’s something that is really hard to find.”
Alix, Sam’s mum
How the Big Give Christmas Challenge works
Our match funds come from generous pledges made by supporters and Big Give Champions, creating a pot that unlocks £1 for every £1 donated during the campaign. When you give during the challenge, your donation is DOUBLED — making it worth twice as much!
Thank you so much to our Pledgers and our Champion funder. Your generosity has enabled us to take part in this year’s challenge.
How you can get involved
Add a calendar reminder to your diary for midday Tuesday 2 December with the link to our Big Give donation page.
Pass it on, make some noise! The Big Give campaign is a prime opportunity to double your impact at no extra monetary cost. Share the campaign with your friends, family and social networks to help even more disabled children, young people and their families access the support they deserve.
Please note: the donate button will appear on the donation page once the campaign has launched – you will not be able to donate before the campaign starts from midday on Tuesday 2 December.
For donations to be doubled they have to be made through our Big Give campaign page.
Make a donation promise
Use the form below to register your interest in our Big Give Christmas Challenge and we’ll send you an email when it goes live on Tuesday 2 December for you to make your donation, which will be doubled thanks to the Big Give Christmas Challenge!
We will only contact you for the Big Give – unless you have opted to receive our other email communications.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support. Let’s make this Big Give our biggest yet!