Why I Founded Amelia’s Light and How My Business Helps It Grow

Some ideas come from lived experience. Amelia’s Light is one of them.

I started this charity because I’ve been in the place it now supports - sitting beside my daughter’s hospital bed, trying to hold it all together while wondering how I’d afford parking or food. That’s not a space anyone should have to carry alone.

My name is Steven Hardy. I’m a father of three, a full-time carer, and the founder of both Amelia’s Light and ADD Digital, my creative business. This article explains why I created the charity, and how my business helps it run.

My daughter, Amelia, has Aicardi Syndrome. It’s a rare and life-limiting neurological condition. Over the years, we’ve faced dozens of hospital stays - some planned, many sudden, a few in intensive care.

During those times, I often felt isolated. Friends and family wanted to help, but few understood what daily life looked like in those moments: trying to keep Amelia stable, holding down work, managing two other children, and finding the money for travel, food, or an unexpected bill.

We’re lucky in the UK to have many brilliant charities, but I discovered a gap. There were very few organisations able to offer fast, practical help at the exact point of crisis - when you’re still in the hospital, still processing, still in the thick of it.

That’s the space Amelia’s Light now fills.

The idea behind the charity is simple: respond fast, act with care, and cut the red tape.

Amelia’s Light provides:

Emergency small grants - to cover things like travel, food, fuel, or urgent bills

Emotional and practical support - for families who feel overwhelmed or alone

Trusted referrals - connecting people with further help when they need it

Requests come through a simple process and are verified with a hospital or healthcare provider. If we get a complete application by 3pm, we aim to reply the same day.

We can’t fix everything. But we can remove one pressure. That’s often enough to help a parent take the next step.

Running a business while caring for a disabled child brings its own challenges. But it also creates opportunities.

At ADD Digital, we support local organisations with design, content, and digital strategy. When I set up Amelia’s Light, I made the decision to use my business to help launch and grow the charity from day one.

This includes:

Building and maintaining the website

Creating branding and marketing materials

Covering admin and support costs when needed

Using our platform to raise awareness and build trust

Giving a portion of our time and income to fund the grant programme

By doing this through ADD Digital, I’ve been able to keep charity costs low and will be able to put more funds directly into family support.

I didn’t start this charity to make a name or chase numbers. I started it because I know what it feels like to hit a crisis and not know who to turn to. I wanted to build something reliable - something rooted in experience, not assumption.

By connecting the charity with my business, I’ve created a model that’s lean, fast, and honest. I’m not chasing growth for its own sake. I want Amelia’s Light to remain focused on helping a small number of families well - with urgency, dignity, and no fuss.

There’s one moment I often return to.

Amelia had been rushed to hospital. I didn’t have time to grab anything. I sat by her bed with no food, no spare clothes, and no cash. The car park fee was rising by the hour. I remember looking at my phone, thinking, I can't afford this - but I can’t leave either.

That feeling - of being stuck, scared, and alone - stayed with me.

No one should have to weigh up buying a sandwich or paying to stay close to their child. That’s the burden Amelia’s Light tries to lift.

If you’re reading this and wondering how to support, there are a few simple ways:

Visit www.ameliaslight.charity

Share the charity on your social media

If you run a business, consider becoming a supporter

Reach out if you know a family who might need us

Right now, we’re aiming to support 10 families through our first round of emergency grants. £2,500 is our starting goal. Every contribution helps us respond faster and more fully.

Amelia’s Light is personal. It’s built from experience - shaped by the hardest moments of my life. But it’s also hopeful. It proves that even in crisis, something steady can grow.

I’m proud that ADD Digital can help power this work. I believe that when a business stays rooted in its values, it can do far more than serve clients - it can serve its community.

And that’s what I plan to keep doing.