Matthew’s story

Eight-year-old Matthew has epilepsy and learning and behavioural difficulties, all of which began after he contracted meningitis aged two. He has short seizures every day, which can make him fall over and seem dazed. He also has problems mixing with other children.

His condition has a huge impact on family life. ‘We try and do everything we would normally do, but a lot of our attention goes on Matthew,’ says his mother, Christine. ‘As Matthew needs so much care, our other children, Finlay and Phoebe, get far less attention.’

We run 36 projects dedicated to providing support and short breaks for children like Matthew with complex learning disabilities. As well as offering fun, exciting activities for the children, these projects give their parents much-needed respite from the pressures of caring for a child with a disability. We work with children with disabilities from pre-school age to 16 plus, and our work also includes projects to support young people with special educational needs.

Matthew now attends the Caern project in Edinburgh. He stays overnight once a week and really enjoys its activities. ‘Matthew has a fantastic time,’ says Christine. ‘We’ve got a photo of Caern at home and he says, I want to go and see the guys! With the help Barnardo’s is giving us, we’re starting to rebuild our lives and we have the space to relax a bit. It’s been a lifesaver for all of us.’