CHRISTINE McGuinness has spoken out about the challenges her and her husband Paddy face raising children with autism.

She has teamed up with McCain and Family fund, the UK’s biggest charity helping families with disabled and seriously ill children, to support new ‘Mealtimes for All’ research, a special edition report from its Nation’s Conversations research series.

The reports explores some of the barriers to family life that are experienced by families raising disabled and seriously ill children.

McCain has pledged £1m that will help Family Fund provide 150,000 grants and services to families with disabled or seriously ill children.

Christine McGuinness met with Kirsty Waite, whose daughter Heidi has Cerebral Palsy, to talk about their shared experiences and how important the McCain £1m pledge will be for those families that Family Fund helps.

Christine McGuinness says: “As a mum of three amazing children with autism, I understand the additional challenges faced by many families across the country raising disabled or seriously ill children.

“Whilst me and my husband have embraced more time with our children over the last year, there is no doubt we’ve faced our share of struggles and tougher moments too, which makes those quality moments together, like mealtimes, all the more important.

“Reading the findings of the McCain Mealtimes For All report has really brought to life the stark reality many families raising disabled and seriously ill children face.

“Working with McCain and Family Fund and meeting a local family who have benefited directly from funding, I can see the life-changing impact this partnership will have in helping facilitate more quality family time for these families.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the children and ensuring they are happy, and the more opportunities to do this the better.”

Kirsty Waite says: “Being a parent is the most special job in the world, but it’s certainly not without its challenges, particularly over the last year.

“The extra support that Family Fund has given to our family, such as providing an iPad to help my daughter Heidi, who has Cerebral Palsy, with her schoolwork, has been invaluable; it has freed-up time for my husband and me to focus on things that help us spend more quality time together, such as preparing family meals.

“The support McCain is giving Family Fund will make such a difference to other families like mine, where special family moments mean so much.”