This week, the Government cut the health element of Universal Credit (UC) for new claimants. For many disabled people and their families, including those we support across East London and Essex, this is not a distant political decision. It is a direct threat to their income, their independence, and their wellbeing. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WCA: Even before this week's cuts, the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) — the process used to determine who receives the health element of UC

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The CFDN Named Disability Advocacy NPO of the Year 2026/27. An award recognising community-led support for disabled people and families across East London and Essex

Government Publishes Major SEND Reform Proposals – What This Means for Families Today the UK Government published its new Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, setting out significant proposed reforms to the SEND system alongside a £4 billion investment package. This represents one of the most substantial policy shifts in SEND in over a decade.

The CFDN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Daniel Ruscoe, has submitted written evidence to the House of Lords inquiry into youth employment, education and training, ensuring that the experiences of disabled young people and their families are represented at the highest level of national decision-making. The inquiry is examining the factors that lead young people to become not in education, employment or training (NEET), and the long-term impact this has on their lives.

On New Year’s Day, CFDN was proud to take part in the London New Year’s Parade as one of the Mayor of Redbridge’s chosen charities for 2025.

Photo taken from the Mencap website: www.mencap.org.uk Families across East London and Essex often tell us the same thing, sometimes quietly over a cup of tea at a Wednesday Club: getting good healthcare should not be this hard. Yet for many people with a learning disability, it often is. That’s why the recent joint letter from Mencap and Health Secretary Wes Streeting is so important. Together, they are calling on every GP practice in the country to make sure people with

The CFDN held a well-attended and impactful coffee morning on 12 June 2025 with Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP to highlight the urgent challenges facing disabled individuals and their families across East London and Essex. Sir Iain, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green was keen to hear about the issues across his boroughs.

The charity formerly known as the Catholic Fellowship Disability Network has officially rebranded as CFDN, marking a major step forward in its commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and community growth. Unveiled alongside a new logo and the motto “Empowering Disability, Supporting All”, the change reflects CFDN’s commitment as a charity that proudly serves people of all faiths and none, while maintaining its historic values of dignity, friendship and belonging.

Get ready for an extraordinary day! The annual Disability Festival in the Park returns on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Christchurch Green in Wanstead. This is an inclusive, fun and fun packed event

On Wednesday 15th May 2025, our Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ruscoe, proudly attended the official Mayoral Robing Ceremony at Redbridge Town Hall, representing the Catholic Fellowship Disability Network (CFDN) as one of the chosen mayoral charities for 2025.