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What We Do
The Almond Tree Foundation offers wellbeing support for parents of children with disability or long term illness.
We’ve grown a warm, global community of people with shared experiences and run free online events, including webinars and drop-in sessions, that offer a safe space for reflection, discussion, and support.
If you’re new here, a good place to begin is our Introductory video.
From there, you’re welcome to explore our parenting series, Life Reimagined, which offers a gentle and practical way to understand wellbeing through the ups and downs of caring for your child. You can also join or watch our regular community drop-in sessions, where people come together to share, ask questions, and feel part of a supportive community.
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Who is the Almond Tree Foundation for?
The Almond Tree Foundation is for parents caring for a child with disability or long-term illness. Our community is for anyone who may be feeling…
Anxious or Stressed
Caring for your child can sometimes feel overwhelming, making it hard to find space for your own wellbeing. You might feel anxious, stretched thin, or find it difficult to relax given everything that’s going on.
Isolated or Alone
There may be times when you feel cut off from others, even from people close to you. It can feel difficult to share what you’re going through, and emotions like frustration, guilt, or sadness may come and go, which can make relationships feel more strained.
Fearful of the future
You might notice moments when you feel scared about what the future holds and everything feels uncertain. It can seem as if the road ahead is narrowing or heading in a difficult direction, and it may feel hard to find ease or see any room for optimism.
Feedback from our Community
Here’s what people in our community have shared about their experience of our sessions and events.
I appreciated the cheerful, peaceful mood, which lingered in me after the sessions. And knowing that the leaders and participants had been in the trenches, so to speak, lent extra power to their observations
I have been listening to your wonderful series. I love the sense of openness and hope that come through and recommend them everywhere. They have helped so many people, thank you!
I was moved to tears at times during each session - in a good way! I think because what you were sharing was just so relatable. It was a huge help listening to the recordings. So thank you very much indeed.
How we can help
The Almond Tree Foundation was created by people with lived experience of caring for loved ones with disability or illness. We know how exhausting and confusing life can feel at times, and how easy it is to lose sight of yourself in the midst of it all.
What we share is a simple, grounded understanding of wellbeing, alongside the support of a community of people who have walked similar paths. Many parents tell us that having this space to reflect, learn, and connect helps them feel more at ease and better able to navigate the ups and downs they face.
We offer a place where you can explore things at your own pace and find support from others who understand what life can feel like for you and your family.
Rekindle your wellbeing
Wellbeing is defined as the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy and yet can be difficult to access.
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But what if wellbeing was always available?
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What if wellbeing was built in?
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What if wellbeing was easy to access?
The answers to these questions can change how we relate to our circumstances and the world.
This automatically reconnects us to our in-built wellbeing.
Something so simple and everyday that it is easily overlooked.
Stories Of Hope
Our web-based video series features people who are living with, or caring for a family member facing illness or disability. Within every story is a message of hope. Click here to see more.
The Almond Tree Foundation
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Caring can feel isolating at times. A recent survey* found that 8 out of 10 carers feel lonely or socially isolated as a result of their caring role, rising to 93 percent for those caring for a disabled child. This echoes what many parents share with us about their day-to-day experience.
The Almond Tree Foundation is a registered UK charity focused on supporting the wellbeing of parents caring for a child with disability or serious illness. Our work brings together wellbeing education and a supportive community, so parents feel less alone and more grounded as they navigate life.
Our name comes from the almond tree being a symbol of hope and renewal. As one of the first trees to blossom after winter, it signals spring and the hope of change in the season ahead. It is also known as the awakener, bringing new awareness and possibilities.
*(Source: Carers UK and Jo Fox Loneliness Commission Report)
About the Founders
Julian Fraser and Claire Shutes, the founders of the Almond Tree Foundation, have personal experience of living with disability. Collectively they have taught thousands of people (including themselves), how to live with less stress, more resilience and greater connection to wellbeing. Their aim is to share what they teach with a wider community.
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Who we work with
