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  • Make a referral

Make a referral

We only accept referrals from medical, healthcare, educational, or social care professionals.  Applications are on a first come first served basis, to ensure that no child is waiting too long for delivery of their dream.  Once we have accepted an allocated number of referrals, the portal will close. All dreams must be UK based and include equipment, holidays, and other experiences. Please note that due to the ongoing Covid situation we cannot at this time deliver garden or bedroom makeovers.

If the portal closes, and you are a referring agency please check at a later date, as unfortunately we do not operate waiting lists.

To qualify for a Dream the child or young person must;

  • Be aged between 5-18 at the time of referral.
  • Meet our medical criteria.
  • The child should not have had a dream or wish experience previously.
  • Live in the UK’s most deprived and disadvantaged regions of the UK – defined as Tier 1 – 3 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA’s).

Click here to use Postcode checker for England

Click here to use Postcode checker for Scotland


Please note if you are a family member or friend and know a child who would benefit from a dream, please get in touch with your/their professional support to progress a referral, we do not accept direct applications.

If the dream is medically urgent, please utilise the enquiry form on our contact us page here

You can make an urgent referral at any time. This is for a child who has a prognosis and is receiving palliative care. We have extended our age range, which is now 2 to 18 and is not restricted by geographic area, in these circumstances.


All referrals should include the level of Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment which the child is in receipt of. This helps determine eligibility where conditions occur along a spectrum, specifically with:
 

  • Autism: applicants should be in receipt of the moderate or higher rate of the care component 
  • Cerebral palsy: applicants should be in receipt of the higher rate of the mobility component (this may also be useful for other conditions causing restrictions to physical mobility). 
  • Global developmental delay: applicants should be in receipt of the moderate or higher rate of the care component 
  • Learning difficulties: Global developmental delay: applicants should be in receipt of the moderate or higher rate of the care component


We cover a wide range of medical conditions with examples including: (please bear in mind that this is by no means exhaustive).

  • Cancer treatment
  • Severe autism, learning difficulties or global developmental delay
  • Heart, lung, bowel, and kidney conditions
  • Degenerative neurological disorders or brain damage
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Conditions affecting the immune system
  • Genetic disorders

Unfortunately, due to resources we are unable to accept applications from children/young people on the basis of the following conditions alone: 

  • Behavioural Disorders e.g. ADHD, ODD etc. 
  • Mental Illnesses e.g. anorexia, depression, Tourette’s. 
  • Visual Impairment 
  • Hearing Impairment

As a referrer, if you are unsure, please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team.


PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY WITH CURRENT DREAM REFERRALS, WE WILL BE OPENING THE PORTAL AGAIN SOON SO PLEASE CHECK BACK AGAIN OFTEN.

Published: 31st August, 2021

Updated: 15th February, 2022

Author: Tom Hunt

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Dreams Come True
Exchange House
33 Station Road
Liphook
Hampshire GU30 7DW

Phone: +44 (0) 1428 726330
Office Hours: 9am-5pm
Email: [email protected]

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© Dreams Come True Charity | Registered as a charity in England and Wales (800248) and in Scotland (SCO3878). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No 2301610