£45k donation helps young wheelchair users gain independence with valuable equipment

An important donation from Simplyhealth, a UK health solutions company, is helping more young wheelchair users in the UK gain independence, sponsoring their mobility equipment through the charity Whizz-Kidz.

Whizz-Kidz is a UK charity for young wheelchair users, which empowers young people by providing the wheelchair equipment, support and confidence-building experiences they need.

Research from the charity suggests that around 75,000 young people in the UK need a wheelchair to be mobile and most are not getting a chair that meets their needs through local services.

Simplyhealth’s donation will support around 15 young people to experience the life-changing impact that having the right wheelchair brings, empowering them to enjoy fun, freedom and independence.

Whizz-Kidz supports around 1,000 children and young people each year with vital mobility equipment and aims to double this by 2025.

Matt Wynes, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Whizz-Kidz, commented: “We are delighted that Simplyhealth has so generously supported Whizz-Kidz with a £45,000 donation, demonstrating their commitment to supporting young wheelchair users across the UK. This kind donation will have a huge impact, helping us to provide the equipment and support young people need so that they can be mobile, enabled and included.”

Besides supporting with equipment, Whizz-Kidz also supports young people’s families and offers a range of activity programmes, wheelchair skills training and employability programmes to support young people under 18 to become confident and supporting their journey to being independent young adults.

One of those was two-year-old Charlotte, who was unable to get up from the floor due to her health conditions, which include spina bifida and hip dyspraxia. Her parents found WhizzKidz’ website, which changed their family’s life.

Charlotte’s mum, Jessica, said: “Charlotte previously spent most of her life in a small space on the floor at home, but now we can put her in a wheelchair and it’s absolutely life-changing for her and us. It’s so lovely to see her play. I wouldn’t like to think about what her life would be like if we hadn’t been able to get her wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz.”

Simplyhealth provides financial and volunteer support to large and small causes around the country.

Wendy Cummins, Community Manager at Simplyhealth, concluded: “We are proud to play our part in helping a charity like Whizz-Kidz continue their hard work.  The funding enables more young people around the UK to get the right mobility equipment helping them and their families to live more free and independent lives.”