Kids (charity)
Kids is a UK-based charity which provides a range of services for disabled children, young people and their families. The Kids ethos is to work in partnership with parents and carers to enable disabled children and young people to develop their skills and abilities and to fulfill their potential, irrespective of their particular impairment or condition.
History
Kids founder John Mulcahy began providing short breaks for disabled children and young people in 1970, with help from Earl Compton, the charity's first patron. Over the next 40 years, working collaboratively with parents and carers, Kids introduced new services by identifying the specific needs of its users.
Kids helped introduce a UK system of Cued Speech in 1975 and established The National Centre for Cued Speech in 1976.
In 2003, Kids merged with Kidsactive, a charity providing safe and inclusive adventure playgrounds for disabled children and young people in and around London.
In 2010, Kids merged with Strut, a Lincolnshire-based disabled children's charity which had provided respite and play and leisure services. The service is now called Kids Strut and still provides play and leisure services to disabled children and young people in and around Lincolnshire.