CEO Spotlight: One Year On: What Bridging the Gap Has Meant So Far

Families are facing longer waiting times, greater financial strain and fewer places to turn. That is why this strategy matters so much, and why now is the time to act. 

When we launched Bridging the Gap just over a year ago, it was not just a new strategy -  it was a renewed commitment to the families we support. A recognition that we needed to do more, reach more families and build stronger foundations so no child or young person misses out on the essential and life-changing care they need. 

One year on and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved, but I am also more aware than ever of how urgent and essential this work continues to be. 

The Toll on Families 
Every week we hear from parents and carers who are doing everything they can to get support for their child, but are met with barriers at every turn. It is not just about accessing a piece of equipment or paying for therapy. It is the hours spent chasing referrals, the financial pressure, the isolation. It is the impact on siblings, on relationships and on mental health. 

When families are under this kind of pressure for too long, it affects every part of life and if children and young people cannot access the support they need to thrive, it has a ripple effect on schools, workplaces and communities. 

That is why we believe so strongly in bridging the gap – because the cost of doing nothing is too high. 

Stories That Keep Us Going 
And yet, every day, we see hope. We see it in the stories of children taking their first independent steps after intensive physio. In families finally able to adapt their homes to make everyday life safer and easier. 

We see hope in the breakthroughs too. New therapies and emerging research are changing what is possible for children and young people with complex conditions. It is not a level playing field, but there is more potential than ever – and when families have access to the right support at the right time, the impact is life changing. 

That is what this strategy is about. Making that kind of transformation possible for more families. 

Strengthening Our Support 
Over the past year, we have worked hard to make sure families feel supported from the moment they join us.  

We have set up a new system that helps us understand each family’s situation from the start, and spot when someone might need extra support along the way. We also launched our Outcomes Framework, which helps us track how families are doing over time – not just financially, but emotionally and practically too. 

We are also building new tools and resources as part of our Family Support Hub – a space where families will be able to find trusted information, practical guidance and, eventually, peer support. We are aiming to pilot the first version next year. 

We are supporting hundreds of families, each with different needs. That is why we need to stay flexible and responsive, with good systems behind us and a clear focus on what really helps and I feel we have made great strides in achieving this which is having a direct impact on our families.  

Partnerships with Purpose 
A key part of our strategy has been developing our Partners in Hope programme – dedicated funds that give us the flexibility to act faster and support families more consistently. 

This has not been easy, but we continue to grow relationships with corporate partners and charitable trusts, while being honest that the funding climate is difficult. Families are still raising incredible amounts through their own networks, but more and more are having to pause. That is why core support and partnership funding is so critical to what we do. 

Behind the Scenes 
This year we have also worked hard to strengthen the foundation of Tree of Hope itself.  

We have: 

• Developed new governance frameworks across medical, digital and financial areas 

• Invested in our people, systems and internal tools 

• Begun building our new Family Support Hub – a digital platform that will make our support more accessible, more scalable and more family led 

These are not always the most visible changes, but they are essential. They make us stronger and more effective in the long term. 

A Challenging Backdrop 
All of this has taken place during a time of rising costs and economic uncertainty. We know that families are under huge pressure, and that many of our supporters and partners are also feeling the squeeze. Charities like ours are doing more with less while demand continues to grow. 

This makes the need for our work even clearer. Every child or young person deserves the chance to live a full and healthy life. Every family deserves support that is fair, accessible and built around their needs. And every story of success – every child who gets stronger, every family who feels less alone – is a reminder of why we keep going. 

Still So Much More to Do 
One year in, we are proud – but we are not finished. 

There are still families waiting. Still children and young people without the therapies or equipment they need. Still campaigns paused because the parents and carers behind them are exhausted. 

But there is also more momentum than ever. More people getting involved. More stories being shared. The gap is still there, but we are working hard to close it. 

Thank You 
To every family who has trusted us with your story, to every supporter who has made this work possible and to every colleague, trustee, volunteer and partner who has helped bring Bridging the Gap to life – thank you. You are part of something that matters. 

And we are only just getting started.