Suggestions for (smaller) charities focussed on visual / heart health or CP

[hub2dee]

I am trying to identify charities to donate to for a photography business I might be starting.

I have already selected some which are active in Africa (the maternity hospital Mears' friend worked at in Malawi) and another in South Africa which helps children orphaned by HIV/AIDS), but would like to find a UK charity that either does good work on preventable blindness / visual health for kids, or else who work in the areas of heart health or CP (ideally smaller charities than BHF / Scope - or maybe syndromes people typically haven't heard of - organisations that may have a harder time raising funds than the more established charities).

I remember a telly program a few years back where some research on coloured-lenses in eyeglasses greatly impacting the day-to-day behaviour of children with autism was discussed but I can't remember the name of the researchers / program. Anyone know what I'm talking about ? Seemed like interesting stuff...

Thanks for any ideas.

irlen uses coloured lenses and overlays

Children's heart charities hub

www.heartline.org.uk
www.childrens-heart-fed.org.uk/
www.maxappeal.org.uk/
www.lhm.org.uk/categoryrender.asp?categoryid=3480&ccid=139

Most of the childrens hospitals have their own support groups which often struggle along on limited funds.

Thanks LV and saggar for your links.

I wonder if everyone would also be happy with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) or if people feel it's a bit big / should be solely NHS funded etc. ?

I'm obviously biased towards my child's hospital Particularly the Heart Unit and the support group which have recently relaunched

They do OK at GOSH I think. They have Alan Sugar and several famous faces fighting their corner

there is a good one in Brighton for CP. I am quite involved with it.

www.whoopsadaisy.org

That sounds interesting MABS. Possibly the site needs more specific information on required funding / raised to date / annual report etc. for donors to fully grasp what the founders are trying to achieve.

I studied in Brighton and Stanmer Park is a really lovely setting; this sounds like a worthwhile project.

Can I suggest CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) which campaigns for better diagnosis/identification of heart defects in children. A terrifying number of young people die suddenly (can't remember exact figure off top of head but it is chilling) from undiagnosed heart defects. This happened to the beautiful sister of dd's friend two years ago. Ever since I have heard of many other cases (including Gabby Logan's 15-year-old brother). It is a tiny charity very much deserving of a higher profile.

www.bibic.org.uk

only listed them because they help kids with all manner of disabilities ncluding CP, vision etc and they have provided (in conjunction with 2 other funders) free care for my 2 sn kids, so i feel obliged tor ecommend them- oh and because they're amaxing and there when i need them (Too Offten!)

GOSH is amazing- can't see how anyone could begrudge them a single penny!

An organisation that really struggles finacially is homestart, a charity I used to work for. Our local one went under financially (survived by amking all but one employee redundant) and manys chemes collapse due to funding- mainly because the privacy we provide our families (struggling with anything dom disability to PND to multiple births or isolation- one child must be under 5 to qualify) with makes it ahrd to appeal and be seen, iyswim.