Local Offer

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

About Whizz-Kidz

Whizz-Kidz is a national children’s mobility charity, founded in 1990 to address the inadequate provision of support and services for disabled children in the UK. All the children we work with have a disability that affects their mobility; many have multiple support needs and around 30% have mild to moderate learning disabilities. Whizz-Kidz's vision is to ensure that every disabled child has the opportunity to lead an active, fulfilling childhood, and to develop the skills, independence and confidence for their transition to adulthood. To give disabled young people the best possible chance for independence and freedom, we provide essential mobility equipment tailored to each child's individual social, clinical and educational needs, including powered wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, sports wheelchairs, trikes and buggies. We also provide crucial support in the form of our ‘Life Journey' provision, comprising the following innovative services:

• Ambassador Clubs (a network of youth clubs spanning the UK)

• Camp Whizz-Kidz (short breaks focused on independent living skills)

• Work Placement programme and Employability Training courses.

• Wheelchair Skills Training

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

An integrated approach to support a young person’s life journey We offer young wheelchair users a pathway of integrated progression through each of our Young People’s Services, which support a disabled young person’s development at critical stages of their lives. Each of the services has been specifically designed to support a young person’s transition from childhood to independent adulthood, and to have a holistic impact, so that they achieve more relevant and meaningful outcomes for the individual. For example, Wheelchair Skills Training empowers young people to live independently through teaching technical skills for real-life application around the home, in school, at university, in personal relationships and at work. Similarly, Ambassador Clubs offer an important opportunity to socialise and build friendships, in addition to developing young disabled people’s life skills and training in areas such as campaigning, independent living, budgeting and job applications. Camp Whizz-Kidz takes this format and transfers it to a residential setting, to facilitate the development of independent living skills, away from the home, parents and carers. To further bolster and develop young disabled people’s ability to become self-sufficient, our employability training equips young wheelchair users with the confidence and skills to make the most of working life. The Whizz-Kidz App gives young people fast and easy access to all of our services, creating a personalised profile in which they can access records of their activity with Whizz-Kidz, apply for mobility equipment and find out about services in their local area. Whizz-Kidz believes that young disabled people should not only be given the opportunity to participate in a service, but to be actively involved in its delivery, and therefore we offer volunteering and leadership opportunities, putting the ownership of the service directly in the hands of the young people. We are committed to supporting the families of young disabled people through their journey with Whizz-Kidz, and have established a Parents Network, which offers information, guidance and support on a range of issues relating to caring for a disabled child.

Nathan said: ‘Hello! I was born with cerebral palsy which for me means that I cannot move my legs and arms as well as other people can. ‘Before Whizz-Kidz, my life was very different to how it is now. I was really reliant on others. I couldn't go out by myself, I couldn't dress myself and I had to get people to push me around all the time, which I didn't like at all. ‘I got my first powered wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz when I was 11 and it was the first time I was able to go to places without having someone push me and I started to become more independent. ‘Soon after getting my equipment I joined my local Ambassador Club. This helped me to meet other young people and have lots of fun, whilst learning new things. Then I stayed away from home for the first time at Camp Whizz-Kidz and did work experience through the charity. These experiences gave me the confidence to go to residential college after my GCSEs. ‘With all that I have learned through Whizz-Kidz , I would like to help other young people and encourage them to reach their full potential. Don't let people tell you can't do something just because you are a wheelchair user. I've become a qualified football referee which surprises many people! So keep on trying to push open those doors even if it may seem impossible at times.’

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

Employability Training The service Whizz-Kidz Employability Training builds on six years of delivering successful employment training and opportunities, enabling hundreds of young wheelchair users across the UK develop greater confidence in accessing working life. Developed in conjunction with young disabled people, our Employability Training helps build key skills disabled young people need to gain employment and/or further education opportunities. Held over the course of one day, topics covered at an Employability Training course include:

• Personal branding

• C.V./job application writing

• Presentation and interview technique

• Job searching

• Volunteering/internships/apprenticeships

• Career choices

• Employment law

• Access to employment, including introductions to the Two Ticks Scheme, the Disability Symbol and Access to Work Scheme. To complement this area of provision, and enrich young people’s Whizz-Kidz experience, we also coordinate hundreds of work experience opportunities in an area of interest to the young person. Fares is one example.

The need The disparity between the employment status of disabled and non-disabled people is staggering. An estimated 76% of non-disabled people are in employment, with this figure standing at only 46% for disabled people (Department for Work and Pensions, ‘Fulfilling Potential, Making it Happen’, 2013). An independent report into Whizz-Kidz services (Ekosgen, 2013) revealed that 80% of Whizz-Kidz service users have not received any relevant work experience through their school, and do not have access to the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers, such as Saturday jobs or part-time work at university. Outcomes Through accessing this service, young disabled people will:

• Be better equipped to apply for jobs and attend interviews.

• Have greater awareness of the services available to them to support them into employment.

• Gain greater autonomy and self-sufficiency through experiencing working life.

• Develop greater confidence in their ability to make the transition to working life.

Employability Training is available to young disabled people aged 16 – 25, for an average of 10 young people per course.

Fares completed a two week work placement at Tesco which helped him develop vital skills in customer service, stock checking and front of house service. Fares’s work placement at Tesco was also a springboard for him to learn softer skills that are essential in the workplace such as punctuality, working as a team, time management and travelling independently to and from work. Fares’s mum is thrilled with the difference his work placement has made to his self-esteem and career prospects. She said: ‘Fares really enjoyed his placement. He was eager to get there every day and didn’t want it to come to an end! Thank you for this opportunity. It has pushed Fares in the right direction!’ Fares is now working with Whizz-Kidz to develop his CV and he plans to pass this on to employers in his search for paid employment. Crucially Fares believes that his work placement has given him the skills and confidence he needs to secure future employment and pursue his ambitions in the working world.

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

Ambassador Clubs

The service Whizz-Kidz runs a network of youth clubs (known as Ambassador Clubs), which provide young wheelchair users with the opportunity to form enhanced and supportive social networks, learn vital life skills and increase their independence. Held monthly on a Saturday or over school/college holidays, Ambassador Clubs also provide families of disabled young people a brief respite from their care responsibilities, with Whizz-Kidz providing personal care provision, as and when appropriate. The format of this service is unique, in offering both tailored content alongside a defined structure of training. Half of the Ambassador Club days run activities directly chosen by the club members, ensuring the service truly reflects the unique preferences and interests of the young people. The remaining days follow a standardised format, with activities and training focused on formative stages of their lives; developing personal relationships, accessing employment and further education, and moving out of the home. Each club will hold an ‘Empowerment and Campaigning Day’, equipping young people with the skills and confidence to affect positive change on both a local and national scale. To maximise the breadth of opportunities available to club members, Whizz-Kidz often collaborates with organisations such as the Red Cross, Tesco and the Council for Education to deliver activity. Ofsted described the outcomes for Ambassador Club service users as ‘outstanding’ in their 2012 report. ‘Young disabled people receive highly effective support and encouragement which helps develop their character and ambitionF They explore new boundaries as they become increasingly independent and confident.’ The need

• ‘Disabled young people identify isolation as a significant barrier to their enjoyment of life.’ (BBC Children in Need, The Importance of Fun & Friendship in the Lives of Disabled Young People, October 2013).

• Six in ten parents of disabled children say they have been unable to access youth clubs or local activities for their child (Scope’s online survey of Mumsnet users, Feb 2014).

Outcomes Through accessing this service, young disabled people will:

• Develop increased confidence to take up leadership opportunities outside of Whizz-Kidz.

• Learn new skills for practical, independent living, facilitating their inclusion and participation in society.

• Extend social networks and, as a result, feel less isolated and marginalised.

• Develop greater confidence and assertiveness to challenge issues and misconceptions relating to disability.

Ambassador Clubs are available to disabled young people aged 12-18, for an average of 15 young people per club.

Kizzy's mum, Faye, said:

‘Before attending the Hull Club, Kizzy would shy away from situations that made her feel uncomfortable, especially at school where she can feel very alienated as the only disabled child. Since attending the Hull Ambassador Club we have noticed that Kizzy speaks out more and shares her ideas. ‘Being the only wheelchair user can be difficult and the thing that Kizzy enjoys most about Ambassador Clubs is meeting other people who understand her, make her feel welcome and included, so she just doesn’t feel different. She comes out of the clubs glowing and it’s all she talks about for the next week.’

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

Wheelchair Skills Training

The service Our Wheelchair Skills Training package provides young wheelchair users with the skills they need to independently operate their wheelchair with confidence. The package comprises three distinct levels of capability; beginners, intermediate and advanced; ensuring that the training is responsive and relevant to the needs of the individual wheelchair user. We also offer a complex needs course for young people with more complex conditions and multiple support needs. Each Wheelchair Skills Training scheme is delivered in two five-hour sessions, held over consecutive days. Training activities will provide young people with essential skills for real-life application; in social situations, around the home, and for independent travel. Whizz-Kidz is the sole provider of Wheelchair Skills Training of this scale and format. Some of the skills that young wheelchair users will acquire through the scheme include:

Stage 1: Beginners course

Pushing, steering, changing direction, picking up and carrying objects, negotiating doors/corridors.

Stage 2: Intermediate course

Negotiating different surfaces and gradients, travel training, journey planning.

Stage 3: Advanced course

Transferring from wheelchair to car, accessing leisure and work facilities.

Complex needs course

Pushing/driving wheelchair without assistance, turning corners and moving through doorways.

TFL Director of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, said in May 2013: ‘Wheelchair skills training is vital for young people to gain the knowledge and experience they need to get around independently and participate in society.’ The need Without adequate training, wheelchair users’ ability to operate their wheelchair can be significantly inhibited. In a consultation with 100 young wheelchair users in February 2014, 66% of respondents told Whizz-Kidz they had not been offered Wheelchair Skills Training elsewhere and where training had been received it was a rudimentary course at school, such as an adapted P.E. course. In the same consultation, only 19 young people stated that they felt confident to travel on public transport independently, highlighting the need for young people to be given more support and training in this area. Outcomes On completion of any of the above courses, young disabled people will:

• Become more confident to use their wheelchair in everyday life.

• Reduce their reliance on others through achieving independent mobility.

• Be better prepared to manage key transitions in their life.

• Become more fully integrated in their local community.

In supporting young people’s use of transport networks and local facilities, Wheelchair Skills Training also generates wider benefits through supporting the local economy. Wheelchair Skills Training is available to disabled children and young people aged 2 – 25, for an average of 10 young people per scheme.

Adam’s mum, Rachel said: ‘Adam’s Whizz-Kidz Wheelchair Skills Training has made an enormous difference to my family’s life. It was the first time Adam, who is six, had space to play with friends using powered chairs. I cannot express what it meant to see him have some independence.

‘As he gains in confidence with his powered chair, like moving himself through doorways - I don’t have to push him in his manual as much. ‘Life can be full of challenges when your child is disabled. Mentally, it is very hard. Having the opportunity to spend time with other parents who understand, at events like Wheelchair Skills Training, is very helpful.’

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

Camp Whizz-Kidz

The service Camp Whizz-Kidz is a three day/two night short break for young wheelchair users. This represents a rite of passage for many young people who have never spent a significant period of time away from their parents/guardian. Tackling the challenge of dependency that is so prevalent among wheelchair users, this is a unique, empowering opportunity for young people to gain the practical skills they will need for adult life. Camps are structured according to three specific age ranges; 12-14, 15-18 and 19-25, with an opportunity for young people outside of the age limit to attend a camp should it be appropriate for their individual condition or level of need. In providing respite for parents/carers and supporting young people to take a more active role around the household, the positive impact of this service is felt not only by the young person, but the family too. Key training elements of the three camps include:

• Age 12-14: Wheelchair Skills Training, socialising and group interaction, sports and active living, personal care.

• Age 15-18: UCAS applications, C.V. writing, interview techniques, travel training, managing a budget

• Age 19-25: employment options and support, assertiveness, banking and the benefits system, team work and leadership, and health care management.

The need In our February 2014 consultation over 70% of service users said that they felt more dependent on their parents/carers than they would like to be. In our 2012 consultation, over 87% of parents stated they found it difficult to find short breaks for their disabled child.

Outcomes Through attending Camp Whizz-Kidz, young disabled people will be:

• More likely to experience independence at home, leading to reduced demand on parents/carers, and greater cohesion within family life.

• More confident to attend college or university, and experience new things in their life.

• Better equipped to live independently and make their own decisions.

• Less isolated and develop a stronger sense of identity.

Camp Whizz-Kidz is available to disabled young people aged 14 – 25, for an average of 10 young people per Camp.

Aaron said: ‘When I first got to camp I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I got very upset and felt homesick. But I’m glad I stayed because I started to really enjoy myself. Camp allowed me to be independent and try new things and I feel more confident knowing that I can be without my Mum and Dad! It was a big step to stay away on my own, but now I know I can do it.’

Aaron’s mum, Debbie said: ‘Since Camp, Aaron enjoys going off on his own more, like when we go shopping he takes the list and gets things by himself. Aaron going to Camp taught me things as well. I do a lot of things for him out of habit, and it made me realise that there are things that he can do himself. it’s good for him to make that change and be more independent.’

Whizz-Kidz Local Offer

The growing family

More information:

If you want to hear more about our Young People’s Services and explore how we can

work in partnership to deliver better outcomes for young wheelchair users in your

area, then please contact:

Mark Lovell, Associate Director of Young People’s Services,

m.lovell@whizz-kidz.org.uk, 0207 798 6124

Visit our website: www.whizz-kidz.org.uk

Download the Whizz-Kidz App by visiting the App Store for Iphones and Play Store

for Androids.