News & Forthcoming Events
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Last Update: 27.05.20 During 2020, the details of our work are: 25 Grants completed to date Our Activity in Recent Years:
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£31,696.89 |
We have seen an increase in the number of smaller grants in the last few years. In 2019 our analysis showed that 53.6% of our grants (by number) required only 25% of our funding. With the steady expansion of our contact base, we are now helping more families with small items which make a big difference to the problems they face.
News about the Charity:
With completion of the 11th Grant in 2019 we reached the major milestone of £750,000 raised and granted without taking a single penny from the Charity in administration costs. Everything donated was used for the benefit of the children. This has occurred only two years (almost to the day) from completion of the previous milestone of £500,000 raised and granted. While we hope to target our next big milestone by 2021, we are increasingly limited by the funding we can raise, especially this year with the impact of COVID 19 on the suspension of so many fundraising activities. We shall be more dependent than ever on the wonderful help we receive from our supporters.
We never anticipated the rate of growth we have seen, or the amount already granted when we started. Sadly this clearly highlights how serious the problems are in this area and how much help is needed.
Donations:
There are full details on our Donation Page of the various methods of making a donation to us, as well as the Everyclick Donation button (centre of the Donation Page), which allows an online donation to be made quickly by Credit or Debit card.
Current and Future Events in 2020:
Stourbridge Golf Club collected £2,147.60 for us during the previous Captain's period of office, which we received in early March, and which was greatly appreciated, as although 2020 has started quietly, both applications and application enquiries have suddenly risen sharply as we enter March, and continued since then.
We also received a Funeral Collection, which was a very kind gesture from the family, and which raised £150.00. Contact was made with the Undertaker, who showed some interest in the work of the Charity, raising the possibility of occasional additional collections when families are looking for suggestions for a local Children's charity.
We have also received the third payment, of a three year programme, from the Barbara Ward Children's Foundation (£5,000.00), a donation from the Geoff Hill Charitable Trust (£500.00), who are local to us, and HMRC responded quickly to our Gift Aid claim which was submitted on 6th April, and we received £4,831.14. This funding has helped to offset recent requests for help, which exceeded £5,000 in the third week of April. We also received the proceeds of a table collection from Newfields Masonic Lodge (£110.00), and a purchase commissions payment of £39.00 from Everyclick. We are starting to generate some commission from our registration with Amazon Smile (Smile.Amazon.co.uk), but we were advised that we have not yet reached the threshold for payment at the end of Q1 (not surprising as we only started towards the end of the quarter), however, Amazon still donated £5.00 for Q1 as we had now started using the scheme. It will take time to build these payments as the Amazon commission rate is only 0.5%, so expenditure needs to reach £1,000.00 to generate the normal minimum of £5.00, but at least any expenditure will generate some funding for the Charity.
News of Recent Grants Made:
27.05.20 We completed a grant of £365.42 for a 2.5 year old who has an acquired brain injury and is currently in a Children's Hospice awaiting transfer to a new Housing Association property. We were asked if we could fund a special support system to help her when playing on the floor, for use at her new home, similar to the one she is using very successfully while in the Hospice. We agreed to fully fund the amount required.
26.05.20 We approved £355.00 for a very young child with movement difficulties following problems at birth, and who now requires the use of Oxygen at home. The family had purchased a second hand activity centre, but some parts were missing and we agreed to fund the purchase of those items to allow the unit to be used to maximum effect.
16.05.20 We have agreed to provide the balance of funding needed (£517.00) for the purchase of a trike (total cost £1,317.00) for an 8 year old with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Having undergone surgery (Selective dorsal rhizotomy) to improve the spacticity in her legs, she was working hard to improve her mobility and a special exercise trike was proposed. The family had raised £800.00 from another charity and we were requested to help with the balance, which we approved.
08.05.20 We have completed another grant - £328.00 for an 8.5 year old child with a severe learning disability, ASD and severe challenging behaviour. He frequently damages items in the home, which is being modified for his condition. This proposal was for a reinforced TV cabinet to prevent breakage of the TV and potential electrical risks, as he has no awareness of danger. With his mother acting as a full time carer, and being a single parent family, we agreed to fully fund.
05.05.20 We completed a grant of £1,403 for a 10 year old with a diagnosis of Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, affecting the muscles in his legs. He can walk independently for short distances with the aid of sticks but uses a self propelled wheelchair for most of his mobility needs. He needs constant exercise stretching his leg muscles to maintain the mobility he has, and use of a special exercise trike was proposed. We agreed to fully fund.
We also completed a grant of £792,75 for a 12 year old a diagnosis of Kabuki Syndrome and a range of other medical problems. A set of parallel bars was proposed, to help to exercise his legs, as his family are keen to continue to work on trying to develop his mobility. We have helped the family previously and have followed his development, and agreed to fully fund this item of equipment.
02.05.20 We completed a grant of £3,900.90 for a 12 year old born with multiple congenital abnormalities including scoliosis of the spine (and for which she had a spinal fusion operation in 2019 with only partial success), hearing loss, global development delay, and she has not yet learned to walk requiring constant adult assistance. She required a wheelchair for mobility, but Wheelchair Services were unable to fund the specific requirements needed for her condition. As a result she has been granted the PWB (Personal Wheelchair Budget) to which she is entitled which totals £1,864.10, leaving additional funding required to acquire a chair suitable for her specific postural needs, and we were asked to help. We agreed to fully fund the balance for a wheelchair with the contoured seat required, along with additional supports.
30.04.20 We completed a grant of £647.18 for a special car seat for a young lady approaching 4 years old with a diagnosis of Smiths Magenis Syndrome, and who presents with delayed speech and language, motor skills, challenging behaviour and a sleep disorder. She escapes from her car seat and presents a hazard when being transported. A new secure and comfortable car seat was required for her, which we agreed to fully fund.
25.04.20 We have completed approval of two further applications:
£1,283.00 for a 2 year old with a diagnosis of Spina Bifida with a Chiari 2 Malformation and Hydrocephalus. Unable to walk but has been able to develop some movement and control of her legs. Proposal was to fund a special exercise trike to help to develop her co-ordination and leg strength which we agreed to fully fund.
Balance of funding required for a 15 year old with a diagnosis of Global development delay, and a range of medical and speech and language problems. He has learned to walk short distances but otherwise uses a wheelchair which is heavy and hard to push now he is older. Proposal was to fund an all terrain buggy to enable him to be taken out and moved around more easily. The family managed to raise some funding online, and we agreed to provide the balance for the purchase to proceed. Total cost was £2,747.00, and once two further weeks of fundraising has been completed, we will fund the balance.
18.04.20 With the lockdown continuing for another 3 weeks, direct face to face contact for both consultations and assessments has not been possible. However, there are areas where applications can still be completed and in the last week two of the three requests received were for car seats which had been assessed at the end of February.
£331.52 for a 4 year old with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and a trachea-oasophageal fistula. She requires help with everyday activities, uses a walker for short distances and a wheelchair for anything longer. She required a special car seat with a swivel base to assist in getting her in and out of the seat. We agreed to fully fund the cost.
£3,406.50 for a 6 year old with a diagnosis of symptomatic epilepsy with focal seizures as well as other medical problems. He required a new special car seat which could both hold him securely as well as providing the additional support that his condition required. After a full assessment, it was determined that he need a range of additional accessories to ensure that he could be safely transported, which resulted in a substantial cost, even allowing for our discount structure with the supplier. With no other funding available, we agreed to cover the full purchase cost.
£1,125.00 for the purchase of a sensory panel for use by Fort Royal Special School. Initially, this would be loaned to a 5 year old girl with extensive medical problems, who required to isolate due to her vulnerability. The school had loaned some sensory equipment and we were asked to help with funding this item. Later, this would be returned to the school for use by other children. We agreed to fully fund the purchase.
06.04.20 We completed a grant of £235.00 for a 3.25 year old, born prematurely and who had subsequently spent time in hospital with extensive medical problems. He had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, short bowel syndrome and microcephaly. The proposal was to fund a portable fully supportive chair to hold him securely as he struggled to sit independently, and we agreed to fully fund.
05.05.20 We completed a grant of 31,403.00 for a 10 year old with a diagnosis of Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, affecting the muscles in his legs. He can walk independently for short distances with the aid of sticks but uses a self propelled wheelchair for most of his mobility needs. He needs constant exercise stretching his leg muscles to maintain the mobility he has, and use of a special exercise trike was proposed. We agreed to fully fund.
02.04.20 We completed a grant of £1,781 for a 9 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy with a range of additional medical conditions which included Epilepsy (Lennox Gastaut), development delay, hip dislocation and reconstruction, and difficulties in standing. Proposal to purchase a Baffin trio Stander which would fully support him, and could cope with his need to lean forwards, as he is unable to stand upright. His Health Authority will part fund, the family had raised some funding, but COVID-19 had caused the cancellation of other fundraising events, and help urgently needed to bridge the funding gap. We agreed to fund the balance required.
27.03.20 We completed two further grants:
£637.00 for a 7 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral palsy, and also exhibits with mobility problems. He required a fully supportive special car seat with a 5 point harness to hold him securely, and we agreed to fully fund.
£2,056.95 for a 13 year old with a range of serious eye conditions, and needed a suitable computer, together with magnification software and a screen reader, to help him to be able to work at home. Having missed a significant period of education recently, the equipment was needed urgently, and we were asked by Dudley Vision Impairment Service if we could help. Having reviewed the circumstances, we agreed to fully fund.
14.03.20 We completed two further grants during the last week. £3,000.00 towards a mobility project for a child with cerebral palsy. A pledge made on the basis of provision once all the required funding is in place, and £618.00 for a child with a diagnosis of Autism, learning disability and who has mobility problems. A special exercise trike was proposed to help to develop his legs and improve his mobility. Total cost was £1,318.00, and with funding of £700.00 already in place we were asked if we could help with the balance of £618.00, which we approved.
.
02.03.20 We completed a grant of £1,400.00 for a 4 year old born with Spinabifida and who exhibits with hydrocephalus and a neurogenic bladder. Despite an initial prognosis that he would never even crawl, with intensive physiotherapy he can walk short distances but with little sensation below his knees, manoeuvring is difficult. Proposal was to fund a special exercise trike to improve his mobility, build leg strength, and improve his co-ordination, and we agreed to fully fund.
22.02.20 We have agreed a grant of £600.00 for a 10 year old with Arthrogryposis (short limbs and with fixed contractures), and who is fully dependent on adult help for all of his care. He uses a powered wheelchair for all of his mobility requirements and he would benefit from a high/low facility for his chair. NHS Wheelchair Services are currently replacing the chair but do not fund this extra facility, so we agreed to cover the additional cost.
30.01.20 We have agreed to grant £2,033.20 for the purchase of a Cavalier Walker for a 13 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia. She uses a powered wheelchair and has been provided with various items of equipment including a standing frame, but is unable to use a walking frame due to her condition. She receives regular physiotherapy on her legs, makes extensive use of her standing frame, and her Paediatric Physiotherapist had proposed a Cavalier Walker to try to further develop her leg muscles. During a full assessment, with suitable support she was able to walk short distances, further helping to develop her muscles, prevent deterioration, and improve her mobility away from her wheelchair. We were asked if we could help and fund the full purchase cost (reduced by our discount agreement with the supplier), to which we agreed.
25.01.20 We completed a grant of £1,322.28 for the purchase of a special exercise trike for a 2 year old born prematurely. She has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, and this exhibits as movement difficulties and the need for daily exercises and stretches to avoid muscle tightening in her legs. Her Paediatric Physiotherapist proposed a special exercise trike to help to both stretch and develop her leg muscles, and improve her general coordination. We agreed to fully fund the purchase, the cost being reduced by our discount structure with the supplier.
17.01.20 We completed a grant of £1,435.50 to provide the balance of funding required for a special car seat for an 8 year old witha diagnosis of Micro Syndrome, which presents with a range of problems including hip displacement and discrepancies in limb length. Having outgrown her existing car seat she required a new seat capable of providing the special support required, as she has poor head and trunk control in addition to her special seating needs. Following a detailed assessment, a suitable seat was specified by our regular supplier with whom we have a discount structure. With the family having already raised some funding, we agreed to grant the balance required for the purchase to proceed.
08.01.20 The first grant of the New Year was completed. He has a diagnosis of Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He has been provided with communication software for an iPad by the ACT Centre in Birmingham, but he uses a wheelchair and needs a tray to support the equipment when in use. Wheelchair Services will not support the extra cost, so we agreed to fully fund.
News about the Charity:
With completion of the 11th Grant in 2019 we reached the major milestone of £750,000 raised and granted without taking a single penny from the Charity in administration costs. Everything donated was used for the benefit of the children. This has occurred only two years (almost to the day) from completion of the previous milestone of £500,000 raised and granted. While we hope to target our next big milestone by 2021, we are increasingly limited by the funding we can raise, especially this year with the impact of COVID 19 on the suspension of so many fundraising activities. We shall be more dependent than ever on the wonderful help we receive from our supporters.
We never anticipated the rate of growth we have seen, or the amount already granted when we started. Sadly this clearly highlights how serious the problems are in this area and how much help is needed.
Donations:
There are full details on our Donation Page of the various methods of making a donation to us, as well as the Everyclick Donation button (centre of the Donation Page), which allows an online donation to be made quickly by Credit or Debit card.
Current and Future Events in 2020:
Stourbridge Golf Club collected £2,147.60 for us during the previous Captain's period of office, which we received in early March, and which was greatly appreciated, as although 2020 has started quietly, both applications and application enquiries have suddenly risen sharply as we enter March, and continued since then.
We also received a Funeral Collection, which was a very kind gesture from the family, and which raised £150.00. Contact was made with the Undertaker, who showed some interest in the work of the Charity, raising the possibility of occasional additional collections when families are looking for suggestions for a local Children's charity.
We have also received the third payment, of a three year programme, from the Barbara Ward Children's Foundation (£5,000.00), a donation from the Geoff Hill Charitable Trust (£500.00), who are local to us, and HMRC responded quickly to our Gift Aid claim which was submitted on 6th April, and we received £4,831.14. This funding has helped to offset recent requests for help, which exceeded £5,000 in the third week of April. We also received the proceeds of a table collection from Newfields Masonic Lodge (£110.00), and a purchase commissions payment of £39.00 from Everyclick. We are starting to generate some commission from our registration with Amazon Smile (Smile.Amazon.co.uk), but we were advised that we have not yet reached the threshold for payment at the end of Q1 (not surprising as we only started towards the end of the quarter), however, Amazon still donated £5.00 for Q1 as we had now started using the scheme. It will take time to build these payments as the Amazon commission rate is only 0.5%, so expenditure needs to reach £1,000.00 to generate the normal minimum of £5.00, but at least any expenditure will generate some funding for the Charity.
News of Recent Grants Made:
27.05.20 We completed a grant of £365.42 for a 2.5 year old who has an acquired brain injury and is currently in a Children's Hospice awaiting transfer to a new Housing Association property. We were asked if we could fund a special support system to help her when playing on the floor, for use at her new home, similar to the one she is using very successfully while in the Hospice. We agreed to fully fund the amount required.
26.05.20 We approved £355.00 for a very young child with movement difficulties following problems at birth, and who now requires the use of Oxygen at home. The family had purchased a second hand activity centre, but some parts were missing and we agreed to fund the purchase of those items to allow the unit to be used to maximum effect.
16.05.20 We have agreed to provide the balance of funding needed (£517.00) for the purchase of a trike (total cost £1,317.00) for an 8 year old with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Having undergone surgery (Selective dorsal rhizotomy) to improve the spacticity in her legs, she was working hard to improve her mobility and a special exercise trike was proposed. The family had raised £800.00 from another charity and we were requested to help with the balance, which we approved.
08.05.20 We have completed another grant - £328.00 for an 8.5 year old child with a severe learning disability, ASD and severe challenging behaviour. He frequently damages items in the home, which is being modified for his condition. This proposal was for a reinforced TV cabinet to prevent breakage of the TV and potential electrical risks, as he has no awareness of danger. With his mother acting as a full time carer, and being a single parent family, we agreed to fully fund.
05.05.20 We completed a grant of £1,403 for a 10 year old with a diagnosis of Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, affecting the muscles in his legs. He can walk independently for short distances with the aid of sticks but uses a self propelled wheelchair for most of his mobility needs. He needs constant exercise stretching his leg muscles to maintain the mobility he has, and use of a special exercise trike was proposed. We agreed to fully fund.
We also completed a grant of £792,75 for a 12 year old a diagnosis of Kabuki Syndrome and a range of other medical problems. A set of parallel bars was proposed, to help to exercise his legs, as his family are keen to continue to work on trying to develop his mobility. We have helped the family previously and have followed his development, and agreed to fully fund this item of equipment.
02.05.20 We completed a grant of £3,900.90 for a 12 year old born with multiple congenital abnormalities including scoliosis of the spine (and for which she had a spinal fusion operation in 2019 with only partial success), hearing loss, global development delay, and she has not yet learned to walk requiring constant adult assistance. She required a wheelchair for mobility, but Wheelchair Services were unable to fund the specific requirements needed for her condition. As a result she has been granted the PWB (Personal Wheelchair Budget) to which she is entitled which totals £1,864.10, leaving additional funding required to acquire a chair suitable for her specific postural needs, and we were asked to help. We agreed to fully fund the balance for a wheelchair with the contoured seat required, along with additional supports.
30.04.20 We completed a grant of £647.18 for a special car seat for a young lady approaching 4 years old with a diagnosis of Smiths Magenis Syndrome, and who presents with delayed speech and language, motor skills, challenging behaviour and a sleep disorder. She escapes from her car seat and presents a hazard when being transported. A new secure and comfortable car seat was required for her, which we agreed to fully fund.
25.04.20 We have completed approval of two further applications:
£1,283.00 for a 2 year old with a diagnosis of Spina Bifida with a Chiari 2 Malformation and Hydrocephalus. Unable to walk but has been able to develop some movement and control of her legs. Proposal was to fund a special exercise trike to help to develop her co-ordination and leg strength which we agreed to fully fund.
Balance of funding required for a 15 year old with a diagnosis of Global development delay, and a range of medical and speech and language problems. He has learned to walk short distances but otherwise uses a wheelchair which is heavy and hard to push now he is older. Proposal was to fund an all terrain buggy to enable him to be taken out and moved around more easily. The family managed to raise some funding online, and we agreed to provide the balance for the purchase to proceed. Total cost was £2,747.00, and once two further weeks of fundraising has been completed, we will fund the balance.
18.04.20 With the lockdown continuing for another 3 weeks, direct face to face contact for both consultations and assessments has not been possible. However, there are areas where applications can still be completed and in the last week two of the three requests received were for car seats which had been assessed at the end of February.
£331.52 for a 4 year old with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and a trachea-oasophageal fistula. She requires help with everyday activities, uses a walker for short distances and a wheelchair for anything longer. She required a special car seat with a swivel base to assist in getting her in and out of the seat. We agreed to fully fund the cost.
£3,406.50 for a 6 year old with a diagnosis of symptomatic epilepsy with focal seizures as well as other medical problems. He required a new special car seat which could both hold him securely as well as providing the additional support that his condition required. After a full assessment, it was determined that he need a range of additional accessories to ensure that he could be safely transported, which resulted in a substantial cost, even allowing for our discount structure with the supplier. With no other funding available, we agreed to cover the full purchase cost.
£1,125.00 for the purchase of a sensory panel for use by Fort Royal Special School. Initially, this would be loaned to a 5 year old girl with extensive medical problems, who required to isolate due to her vulnerability. The school had loaned some sensory equipment and we were asked to help with funding this item. Later, this would be returned to the school for use by other children. We agreed to fully fund the purchase.
06.04.20 We completed a grant of £235.00 for a 3.25 year old, born prematurely and who had subsequently spent time in hospital with extensive medical problems. He had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, short bowel syndrome and microcephaly. The proposal was to fund a portable fully supportive chair to hold him securely as he struggled to sit independently, and we agreed to fully fund.
05.05.20 We completed a grant of 31,403.00 for a 10 year old with a diagnosis of Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, affecting the muscles in his legs. He can walk independently for short distances with the aid of sticks but uses a self propelled wheelchair for most of his mobility needs. He needs constant exercise stretching his leg muscles to maintain the mobility he has, and use of a special exercise trike was proposed. We agreed to fully fund.
02.04.20 We completed a grant of £1,781 for a 9 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy with a range of additional medical conditions which included Epilepsy (Lennox Gastaut), development delay, hip dislocation and reconstruction, and difficulties in standing. Proposal to purchase a Baffin trio Stander which would fully support him, and could cope with his need to lean forwards, as he is unable to stand upright. His Health Authority will part fund, the family had raised some funding, but COVID-19 had caused the cancellation of other fundraising events, and help urgently needed to bridge the funding gap. We agreed to fund the balance required.
27.03.20 We completed two further grants:
£637.00 for a 7 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral palsy, and also exhibits with mobility problems. He required a fully supportive special car seat with a 5 point harness to hold him securely, and we agreed to fully fund.
£2,056.95 for a 13 year old with a range of serious eye conditions, and needed a suitable computer, together with magnification software and a screen reader, to help him to be able to work at home. Having missed a significant period of education recently, the equipment was needed urgently, and we were asked by Dudley Vision Impairment Service if we could help. Having reviewed the circumstances, we agreed to fully fund.
14.03.20 We completed two further grants during the last week. £3,000.00 towards a mobility project for a child with cerebral palsy. A pledge made on the basis of provision once all the required funding is in place, and £618.00 for a child with a diagnosis of Autism, learning disability and who has mobility problems. A special exercise trike was proposed to help to develop his legs and improve his mobility. Total cost was £1,318.00, and with funding of £700.00 already in place we were asked if we could help with the balance of £618.00, which we approved.
.
02.03.20 We completed a grant of £1,400.00 for a 4 year old born with Spinabifida and who exhibits with hydrocephalus and a neurogenic bladder. Despite an initial prognosis that he would never even crawl, with intensive physiotherapy he can walk short distances but with little sensation below his knees, manoeuvring is difficult. Proposal was to fund a special exercise trike to improve his mobility, build leg strength, and improve his co-ordination, and we agreed to fully fund.
22.02.20 We have agreed a grant of £600.00 for a 10 year old with Arthrogryposis (short limbs and with fixed contractures), and who is fully dependent on adult help for all of his care. He uses a powered wheelchair for all of his mobility requirements and he would benefit from a high/low facility for his chair. NHS Wheelchair Services are currently replacing the chair but do not fund this extra facility, so we agreed to cover the additional cost.
30.01.20 We have agreed to grant £2,033.20 for the purchase of a Cavalier Walker for a 13 year old with a diagnosis of Cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia. She uses a powered wheelchair and has been provided with various items of equipment including a standing frame, but is unable to use a walking frame due to her condition. She receives regular physiotherapy on her legs, makes extensive use of her standing frame, and her Paediatric Physiotherapist had proposed a Cavalier Walker to try to further develop her leg muscles. During a full assessment, with suitable support she was able to walk short distances, further helping to develop her muscles, prevent deterioration, and improve her mobility away from her wheelchair. We were asked if we could help and fund the full purchase cost (reduced by our discount agreement with the supplier), to which we agreed.
25.01.20 We completed a grant of £1,322.28 for the purchase of a special exercise trike for a 2 year old born prematurely. She has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, and this exhibits as movement difficulties and the need for daily exercises and stretches to avoid muscle tightening in her legs. Her Paediatric Physiotherapist proposed a special exercise trike to help to both stretch and develop her leg muscles, and improve her general coordination. We agreed to fully fund the purchase, the cost being reduced by our discount structure with the supplier.
17.01.20 We completed a grant of £1,435.50 to provide the balance of funding required for a special car seat for an 8 year old witha diagnosis of Micro Syndrome, which presents with a range of problems including hip displacement and discrepancies in limb length. Having outgrown her existing car seat she required a new seat capable of providing the special support required, as she has poor head and trunk control in addition to her special seating needs. Following a detailed assessment, a suitable seat was specified by our regular supplier with whom we have a discount structure. With the family having already raised some funding, we agreed to grant the balance required for the purchase to proceed.
08.01.20 The first grant of the New Year was completed. He has a diagnosis of Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He has been provided with communication software for an iPad by the ACT Centre in Birmingham, but he uses a wheelchair and needs a tray to support the equipment when in use. Wheelchair Services will not support the extra cost, so we agreed to fully fund.