No parent should have to worry about their child suffering brain injury in their own home — but this is our reality.

Our beautiful boy Hedley is 7 years old. He is funny, loving, and full of his own unique light. Hedley is also non-verbal autistic, and the world can often feel overwhelming, confusing, and frightening for him.

When Hedley becomes dysregulated, he cannot tell us what is wrong or what he needs. The frustration and sensory overload build up inside him, and he expresses that distress physically. At its worst, he smashes his head against the floor or walls. Watching your child hurt themselves and not being able to stop the overwhelm behind it is something no parent is ever prepared for.

Our biggest fear is the long-term damage this could cause. Repeated head-banging puts him at risk of skull fractures, concussion, and potential brain injury. We live with constant worry about what might happen during one of these episodes.

We have been fighting for support. We applied to the council for funding to create a safe sensory space for Hedley, but unfortunately, our application was rejected.

Because our current home layout does not have a suitable space that can safely be converted, we now need to build a small extension to our house to create a dedicated sensory room for him.

This space would be specifically designed to help Hedley regulate before he reaches crisis point. It would include:

* Soft padded flooring and walls to prevent injury

* Sensory lighting to help calm overstimulation

* Weighted and tactile resources to support regulation

* A safe, enclosed environment where he can decompress

This is not a luxury or a home improvement project — it is a safety measure. It is protection. It is prevention. It is about giving our son somewhere secure when the world feels too much.

With the right environment, we can reduce the intensity and frequency of his meltdowns. We can give him tools to regulate. Most importantly, we can significantly lower the risk of serious injury.

We never imagined we would be asking for help in this way, but our priority is keeping Hedley safe.

Every pound you give brings us closer to protecting our little boy’s precious head, his growing brain, and his future — please help us keep Hedley safe.

With all our gratitude,

Hedley’s family