Impact Report 2024

Cerebra is a UK charity supporting children with brain conditions — including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down's syndrome and developmental delay — and their families. In 2024 the charity helped 861 families through its Sleep Advice Service, supported 123 children through its Innovation Centre with bespoke equipment, and helped 104 families access legal entitlements through its Legal Rights Service. Information resources were downloaded 43,053 times, with the DLA Guide alone downloaded 13,721 times. £481,458 was invested in research across six UK and international universities. Two new accredited sleep training courses were launched for professionals. New research into Systems Generated Trauma — the harm caused to disabled families by public service systems — was launched with University of Leeds, with findings due in 2025.

Report snapshot
861 families helped to get a good night's sleep through the Sleep Advice Service; 2,750 self-referrals received through website and helpline Key Metric 1
123 children supported by the Innovation Centre to discover life and have fun; 1,266 books and toys lent through the Postal Lending Library Key Metric 2
43,053 downloads of information resources; £481,458 spent on life-changing research; 104 families helped by Legal Rights Service to access public services Key Metric 3
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📋About

Sleep Advice Service (one-to-one support and group sessions); Legal Rights Service (social care, school transport, Disabled Facilities Grants, education, health); Innovation Centre (bespoke equipment for children); Postal Lending Library (books and toys); information guides and factsheets; research programme (universities of Leeds, Birmingham, Warwick, Surrey, Aston, Barcelona); sleep training for professionals (two new accredited courses launched in 2024); webinars and conferences

📊Key Metrics

861 families helped to get a good night's sleep through the Sleep Advice Service; 2,750 self-referrals received through website and helpline Key Metric 1
123 children supported by the Innovation Centre to discover life and have fun; 1,266 books and toys lent through the Postal Lending Library Key Metric 2
43,053 downloads of information resources; £481,458 spent on life-changing research; 104 families helped by Legal Rights Service to access public services Key Metric 3

Key Outcomes

  • 85% of users who gave feedback rated Cerebra's information guides as excellent; top downloaded resource was the Disability Living Allowance Guide (13,721 downloads), helping families secure vital benefits
  • 663 families helped on a one-to-one basis; 198 people attended seminars, workshops, webinars and courses; sleep resources downloaded 8,187 times
  • Research on Systems Generated Trauma launched with Professor Luke Clements (University of Leeds), examining harm caused by public service systems to disabled children and families; full report due 2025

📍Geography

UK-Wide

2025

Annual Report 2024/25

£20.8m raised in 2024/25 (up from £17.4m in 2023/24)
Key Metric 1
£9.6m raised from 176 legacy gifts; £14m committed to new Total Body PET-CT scanner
Key Metric 2
49,000 active supporters; 3,857 running participants (doubled in 3 years); 83p in every £1 goes directly to patients
Key Metric 3
MyChristie-MyHealth ePROMs system reduces clinician time on routine reviews by up to 23% and enables earlier symptom detection
2026

Impact Report Year Ending April 2026

2,829 children, parents, siblings and grandparents supported; 506 families with a child in treatment
Key Metric 1
220 bereaved families supported; 424 individuals on 93 boat trips; 692 individuals in 165 cabin breaks
Key Metric 2
£71,935 unlocked in essential support; 1,320 social work hours; 188 creative therapy sessions and 271 counselling sessions delivered
Key Metric 3
Families show average 0.7 point improvement across five Mo's Outcomes after support begins; biggest gains in social participation and accessing emotional support