Newlife is featured in a new landmark book which explores leadership, public life and social change across the UK and Commonwealth over the past 100 years, giving Newlife the chance to join the wider conversation and share more about our work with a new audience.

Monarchy and Democracy: A History of Leadership, produced in partnership with leading publisher St James’s House, an imprint within the SJH Group, looks at how leadership has shaped the UK and Commonwealth over the past 100 years. Alongside political and social history, it also profiles organisations whose work connects to leadership, innovation, sustainability and governance.

Newlife exists to champion the joy of childhood for every disabled child. We work with families across the UK to provide practical support, specialist equipment and encouragement that help disabled children live, grow and flourish, so for us this feature is a chance to bring more visibility to disabled children’s lives and the barriers that still shape too many everyday experiences.

From speaking with families and professionals we know that everyday life is made harder by barriers that should not be there. Those barriers might be delays in getting equipment, systems that are difficult to navigate, services that are hard to access, or environments that are not inclusive.

Those barriers can affect simple but important parts of childhood, such as joining in at school, spending time with friends, travelling safely, playing, growing in confidence and feeling part of the world around them.

When the right support is in place, that picture can change. Access to equipment, practical guidance and timely help can open up opportunities, reduce pressure on families and help disabled children take part more fully in everyday life.

That is why we are proud to be part of a project that creates space for these conversations and recognises the role organisations can play in building a fairer future.

Launched on 9 June 2026 in the grounds of Westminster Abbey in London, the hardback book, written by a team of prominent academics and award-winning authors, including royal experts Robert Jobson, Russell Myers and Katie Nicholl, explores the evolving roles of Crown and Parliament in the leadership of the UK and the Commonwealth.

The book looks back on the origins and impact of one of the most significant pieces of legislation in British history, the Act of Settlement 1701. It documents the shifts in power, past and present, through to the major political and social changes of the past 100 years.

Fiona Robinson, Newlife’s CEO, said: “We are proud to be featured in Monarchy and Democracy: A History of Leadership. For Newlife, this is an opportunity to shine a light on disabled children’s lives and the barriers that still affect too many families across the UK. We believe every disabled child should have the support, equipment and encouragement they need to live, grow and flourish, and we are pleased to be part of a publication that recognises the importance of leadership in driving positive change.”

Dr Jennifer Davey, Director at the History of Parliament Trust, said: “The book not only explores the history and evolution of UK and Commonwealth governance and the shift to a constitutional monarchy but also profiles a selection of organisations invited to join the project based on their relevance to the themes of leadership, innovation, sustainability and governance.

Stephen van der Merwe, a Group Director at the SJH Group, said: “Through in-depth interviews with the leaders of organisations such as Newlife, and by spotlighting their work, Monarchy and Democracy provides a compelling, first-hand perspective on how today’s organisational leaders are shaping the future in a wide range of areas, including governance, education, charitable work, enterprise and industry.”

For Newlife, featuring in this book is another chance to keep disabled children and their families visible in conversations about leadership, progress and the future we all want to build.