In October we heard from this little girl’s family who had bought a secondhand Trike that needed new wheels. Otherwise sturdy we were happy to meet the cost of replacing Tiger wheels. Her photos sent by her parents show how delighted she is with her Trike giving her good healthy exercise and a degree of independence.

In October we learned of the multi complex problems of one little girl known to us. In mainstream school, she is unable to speak and her old portable eye gaze communication system was not working: she was assessed by the ACE Centre. We were told “the long term plan is to purchase a portable communication device to attach to her wheelchair. She is currently working hard on developing her use of low technology communication book (PO DD) which is because eye gaze technology today has not proved sufficiently reliable”. With this in mind we were only too happy to assist […]

In September another application was made for assistance to meet the cost of this Buggy. Its hard work with heavy wheelchairs and lighter less well made ones may not suit the child. So once again we were happy to help this mother to make life a little easier getting out and about with her daughter.

In September we once again learned of yet another mother struggling with loading her daughter’s heavy wheelchair in and out of her car. Her Paediatric Occupational Therapist approached us and we were happy to donate towards the cost. In mother’s letter of thanks she said she had resorted to buying lighter pushchairs (she had had 3 already) which failed to give her little daughter enough support. With her little girl’s complex needs, this mother felt local services had not provided a suitable supportive wheelchair and now the little one has had scoliosis diagnosed. Our assistance was therefore much appreciated. . […]

In July a Paediatric Occupational Therapist asked for a rapid decision to meet the need for a replacement car seat for this one year old boy who had out-grown his old one. Mother was also expecting another baby quite soon. The Maxi Cosi Swivel Car Seat was chosen as the most appropriate one for his needs. This is where our small group is able to act swiftly: though ideally we consider applications at our quarterly Executive Meetings, in instances like these our Secretary can email all Executives and, with a majority approving, can respond quickly to the family concerned. In […]

In July the Paediatric Occupational Therapist of this young boy supported an application for a set of covers for his wheelchair to protect it at his School plus 2 trunk supports and chest harnesses. On this occasion we dealt directly with James Leckey Design in Lisburn who proved very helpful and the order was delivered successfully to Shepherds Down School.

This little 5/6 year old boy had benifitted so much from a second-hand therapeutic trike we had helped to buy in 2012 but which he has now outgrown. His parents said ““he’s had a good few seasons on it and has loved every minute of it and it has been a great source of exercise for him.” In July his parents applied for help towards a larger one so we were happy to help them replace it by donating towards a costly Colt Trike. The photo his parents have sent show his obvious delight with his new trike which not […]

This four and a half year old boy has complex problems with his cerebral palsy and needed a good reliable buggy. In June his Paediatric Occupational Therapist sourced a MacLaren Major Elite Buggy together with accessories from a supplier who could supply at a favourable price. She applied on his behalf which was approved at an Executive Meeting and his mother was advised to order on line (which was the cheaper option) A cheque was sent to the mother to meet the cost.

In May an appeal by NewLife appeared in the Hampshire Chronicle. Their aim was to raise £3,000 towards the cost of a lightweight wheelchair for a little schoolgirl whose walking aid was bulky and a possible hazard for other children at St Peter’s School. She needed a lightweight wheelchair. As the family live within our catchment area of Winchester & North Eastleigh, we offered a donation to Newlife and made contact with the family. Happily Newlife succeeded in raising almost the entire amount so we topped up the gap. As we had told the family we had pledged our top […]

This Centre for Conductive Therapy has proved to be greatly valued by parents and therefore appeals towards meeting the costs are considered favourably by us. The parents of a 7 year old girl told us how much she has benifitted from her previous sessions and in May applied for help with 24 summer sessions. An arrangement with the Centre to invoice us for these sessions was agreed by our Treasurer which is potentially an efficient process.