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Fledglings

Fledglings is a non-profit shop that helps children and adults with additional needs by supplying products and equipment that help with everyday challenges.

fledglings, since 1998, written in white in front of red, pink, green, blue and navy circles.

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Who they are

Founded in 1998 by Ruth Lingard, Fledglings began as a much-needed resource for families seeking practical products to support children with additional needs. At a time before widespread internet access and mobile phones, sourcing specialist items meant relying on catalogues, phone calls and word of mouth — and Fledglings set out to change that.

Today, Fledglings is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) providing carefully selected products that make everyday life a little easier for children and adults with disabilities or sensory needs. From adaptive clothing and sensory toys to daily living aids, each item is chosen with care, based on real feedback from families, carers and professionals.

Customers can easily browse by condition, category or need — whether that's swimming, toileting, bedtime, or school — making it simpler to find the right support. Popular brands include Billy Footwear, Friendly Shoes, BundleBean, Kes-Vir, TomTag, and MERU, alongside a growing number of exclusive products including their popular Unitards.

Previously part of Contact, the national charity for families with disabled children, Fledglings became an independent CIC in 2025. While our structure has changed, our mission remains the same: to support families with meaningful, practical solutions — with any surplus reinvested into helping even more people.

What they sell

From pant liners to hydrotherapy head protection, Fledglings offers a wide range of products including sensory toys and fidgets, Adaptive and protective clothing, Bedding and sleepwear, Incontinence and ostomy swimwear, Feeding aids and assistive tableware, Communication tools and visual supports and home safety and travel essentials

Visit the Fledglings website

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Girl wears purple and pink swimsuitToddler plays with iPad sitting next to electric plug coverChild wears fingerless mittens in bright blue and navy blue, with elastic black strap across the underside of the fingersCurved fork and spoon set shown in green and also in blue with white plastic for end of spoon and forkSmiling boy sits wearing all in one zip up fleece pjamas which cover the feetSpecial educational needs white keyboard with coloured keys in blue, orange, yellow, green and red