Children and families across Glasgow living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus will be able to spend more time together, build confidence and feel less alone, thanks to additional funding for specialist services.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland is the only dedicated charity supporting children, young people and adults affected by these conditions anywhere in Scotland.
Hundreds of families are supported each year, with a particularly high concentration in Glasgow and Lanarkshire. Over 370 children in those areas require ongoing specialist support, with many facing added pressures linked to disability, reduced mobility and social isolation.
The charity works with families from the point of diagnosis through childhood and into adulthood, offering free, lifelong, trauma‑informed support. This includes one‑to‑one family support, counselling, accessible group activities and advocacy across health, education and social care.
To help Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland continue their work, the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust has again made a £1,100 donation, after a £2,000 donation in 2025.
The new funding will help strengthen the charity’s core family support and children’s services, ensuring play sessions, youth activities and family groups remain open and accessible. These services give children the chance to make friends, build independence and develop resilience, while parents and carers receive practical guidance and emotional support.
Lawrence Cowan, Chief Executive of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, thanked the Trust for the donation, saying, “Support from Allied Vehicles means so much to all of us at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland. Our mission is to give everyone with spina bifida and hydrocephalus the chance to feel unstoppable. This support will mean we can offer more opportunities for children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus to belong and be proud of who they are.”
Gerry Facenna, founder and owner of Allied Vehicles Group, added, “This funding is about helping families feel supported where it matters most. The work Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland does helps children grow in confidence and helps parents feel less alone, and that can have a real impact on day-to-day family life.”
With this extra backing, more Glasgow families will be able to connect with others who understand their experiences, helping children grow up feeling included, confident and supported.
