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“It’s like torture: Life in Temporary Accommodation for Neurodivergent Children and their Families”

The report, titled ‘It’s like torture: Life in Temporary Accommodation for Neurodivergent Children and their Families’, highlights the findings of a UK-wide call for evidence launched by Dr Rosalie Warnock and Professor Katherine Brickell from King’s College London, through the All Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation, and with support from the Shared Health Foundation, Justlife, and Autistica.

There is no official data on how many children living in temporary accommodation are neurodivergent; however, the report estimates that between 25,000 and 120,000 such children are affected in England.

Despite this, neurodivergent children in temporary accommodation have been omitted from Government strategies and policy decisions.

The report calls for a series of recommendations that are targeted at local and national governments to improve the experiences of neurodivergent children living in temporary accommodation.

Experts in health inequalities

We are a clinically-led and evidence-based not-for-profit, passionate about reducing the impact poverty has on health. 

Good health should be shared with all. It should not be damaged by social or economic disadvantage.

We exist to mitigate the effects of the inverse care law, adding capacity to systems which are otherwise overwhelmed by complex needs.

We conduct on-the-ground work to identify challenges, pilot solutions, build an evidence base and then work alongside local and national organisations and policy makers to implement system change.

Shared Health supports homeless families locally in Greater Manchester while also working strategically to promote system change regionally and nationally through the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation.

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How we do it

We work by promoting innovation, integrated working and co-production.

Innovation

We ensure we are not duplicating but provide unique solutions and promoting best practice. We are not afraid to take risks and learn just as much from what doesn’t work as what does.

Integrated working

Improving health outcomes should not be down to one sector alone. We ensure the VCSE, health, education, social care and political sectors are working together - promoting the idea that it is everyone’s responsibility to support the health of our communities.

Co-production

We are strong advocates that there is a wealth of knowledge and solutions amongst our communities. Our work, projects and outcomes happen with our communities, not to them.

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More about Shared Health

Projects

We work on innovative projects that have a measurable impact. From preparing health professionals to tackle health inequality, to building resilience in vulnerable patients, to advocating for disadvantaged families.

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Events

Learn more about the conferences, training days and other events we organise.
Come curious ready to learn, listen and exchange ideas.

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Publications

We always share our findings and recommendations from our work, in the hope that others will build on our efforts both at clinical and policy level.

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About Us

Our team combines expertise from health, education and VCSEs to find what works in tackling complex health and social care problems, and help to implement it.

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We’re hiring! (December 2025)

Job description Role title: Health Inequalities Policy Officer Contract type: Fixed-term or permanent, Part-time…

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Homeless Families Conference: Dare to Hope 2025

There are 172,420 homeless children in England living in Temporary Accommodation. Many…

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Doctors in Deprivation Training Day: Find Your Tribe 2025

Good health should be shared with all. It should not be damaged…

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