Hollyoaks' Nick Pickard & Jimmy McKenna anchor the Awards

Whizz-Kidz, the UK charity that supports young disabled people with mobility equipment, life skills and campaigning and leadership tools, holds its first national recognition event – at a House of Commons ceremony hosted by Stuart Andrew MP on Wednesday 8 February 2012.

The Kidz Unlimited ‘Celebrating Achievement’ Awards celebrate the skills, talent and achievements of the charity’s Ambassadors and volunteers around the UK – and has some very special guest award-givers including; Leader of the Opposition the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP; Ade Adepitan MBE, sportsman, paralympian and television presenter; and journalist, political aide and author Alastair Campbell.

Hollyoaks actors Nick Pickard and Jimmy McKenna co-anchor the event, which will also feature the very first beatboxer to perform in the House of Commons- international music artist Killa Kela.

Mark Lovell, Head of Youth Participation at Whizz-Kidz said: “Our intention was to make the first Kidz Unlimited Awards event one that young people can really ‘own’. It’s about them and their passions and achievements after all. With categories including ‘Young Campaigner of the Year’ and ‘Ambassador Club of the Year’, we’re holding up young role models and ensuring they’re proud of the things they’ve accomplished.

“The mix of politicians, decision makers, and actors and musicians reflects the variety of aspirations that disabled youngsters have – exactly the same as any their non-disabled friends.”

The event will take place in front of an audience of MPs, young people, invited guests and members of the Whizz-Kidz family, and is believed to be the first event streamed live from the House of Commons, courtesy of Noonan Media; allowing audiences to follow the action online via Facebook, Twitter, Whizz-Kidz’s website, and Audioboo. Australian children’s TV presenter Pip Russell will be our roving reporter, getting backstage interviews from Ambassadors and VIPs as the ceremony takes place.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer – official legal services provider to the Olympics and Paralympics 2012 – is proudly supporting the Kidz Unlimited Celebrating Achievement Awards. Freshfields has supported Whizz-Kidz Ambassadors to learn work skills and leadership by providing internships in 2011.

Simon Hall, Partner at the firm commented, “Freshfields is delighted to be supporting the Whizz-Kidz Celebrating Achievement Awards. These inaugural awards are a marvellous milestone for Whizz-Kidz, a great charity that makes a real difference to the lives of many disabled young people.  All of us at Freshfields wish them every success both with the House of Commons event and with their ongoing work”.

- Ends –

Notes to Editors

• Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of nearly 16,000 disabled children since 1990 – often literally overnight. The charity supports young people to access the right mobility equipment – including powered wheelchairs – at the right time; and delivers wheelchair skills-training, work placements, and other life-skills to help their transition from childhood to adulthood. There are still over 70,000 children in the UK who need our support.
• Whizz-Kidz aims to joint-fund mobility equipment where possible with local NHS services, and aims to ensure that much-needed improvements are made in delivering wheelchair services for children in the UK.
• The right wheelchair and mobility equipment is not automatically provided on the NHS, and it is virtually impossible for a young disabled person to get a powered wheelchair. Whizz-Kidz’s FastForward campaign is calling on Government to reform young people’s wheelchair services. www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/fastforward.

A total of £2,400 was raised in December.

Andrew Howell, Whizz-Kidz acting Director of Fundraising, has said: “We are extremely grateful for the MoJ’s contribution. The money will directly enable these children to experience a happier, more independent 2012 – and to take part in family life as they grow.”

Nicola Baker, Senior Communications Manager at MoJ added, “We had a tremendous response to the fundraising. Individuals and teams around MoJ gave generously and imaginatively. To name just a few:

“HMCTS Midlands Regional Office in Birmingham raised £250 through a raffle and a sale of cakes and biscuits, baked and donated by Nigel Barker, Regional Head of Finance for the Midlands (who trained as a chef before joining the Department!); the carol concert held in 102 Petty France featuring the terrific MoJ carol singers, raised just over £170; and both the Neighbourhood Justice & Transparency team and staff at Croydon Crown Court decided not to send Christmas cards to each other this year and to give money to Whizz Kidz instead. They raised £44.50 and £42 respectively.”

We are also very grateful to the Prison Service Charity Fund, which matched MoJ’s donation. The Fund receives contributions from Prison Service staff.

Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Efi meets MoJ Permanent Secretary Sir Suma Chakrabarti

photo: South Wales Argus

Newport Dragons flyhalf, Jason Tovey, helped launch a Whizz-Kidz in Wales fundraising drive on Tuesday 24 January, at Rodney Parade.

Assisting him in the launch was 15-year-old Whizz-Kidz Ambassador, Ayesha Khan – a pupil at nearby Lliswerry High School. Ayesha has spina bifida and lat month received a new wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz.

Jason said:

“As a professional rugby player I spend every day training to keep at the top of my game. Never having a problem with getting around, it’s easy to take your mobility for granted, but meeting Ayesha and seeing how life-changing having the right wheelchair can be, is astonishing.”

With Jason Tovey’s help, Whizz-Kidz aims to raise £50,000 in Wales in 2012. All money raised will be spent in Wales.

For more information on volunteering and fundraising specifically in Wales, please contact Ruth Henley, regional fundraiser for Wales, at r.henley@whizz-kidz.org.uk

photo: South Wales Argus

Pic courtesy of ITV / The Daily Mail

23 January Update:

We were sorry to see Mark leave the competition on Sunday – he was gaining in confidence and trying really hard. Bad luck, but we’re proud of you.

…It’s up to Sam to fly the Whizz-Kidz Patron flag now!

Good luck, and well done to both boys.

Original post:

Whizz-Kidz Patrons – BAFTA nominated Children‘s TV presenters & radio favourites Sam Nixon & Mark Rhodes – are signed up to compete in this year’s ITV’s Dancing On Ice!

The pair – better known as Sam & Mark – have been working with the charity since 2010. Their championing and fundraising activity already includes; performing an exclusive tribute gig in aid of Mark’s late nephew (a beneficiary of Whizz-Kidz); attending wheelchair skills training sessions and meeting young ambassadors; Mark running the Virgin London Marathon for the charity in 2011; and both launching the Whizz-Kidz Neon Nightwalk.

The duo have raised well over £10,000 for the charity since their involvement, which is incredible.

Sam is also following in Mark’s footsteps (literally!) and running the 2012 Marathon himself for Whizz-Kidz!

We’re hoping for an injury-free Dancing on Ice competition – for both boys – and wish them all the best in the contest. They have the full support of all of our young people, families, friends, staff and supporters!

Follow the boys’ progress on Twitter on their official profile: @SamandMark TV, as well as Sam’s skating partner @AlexandraLukasz and Mark’s partner @FrankieSK8 .

We’ll be tweeting encouragingly too from @WhizzKidz

Sir David was appointed Chairman of Tesco PLC on 2 April 2004 – a position he held until the end of 2011 – and got to know the charity during 2006 when Whizz-Kidz was Tesco Charity of the Year. Although the smallest charity to have won the much-prized partnership, it raised the largest amount seen by the retailer up to that year – £3.5million. It also allowed Whizz-Kidz to help over 750 children in local areas by providing vital mobility equipment. He was appointed Chairman of Whizz-Kidz in May 2008.

Mr  Reid  said:  “This  is  a huge  honour  and  a reflection of all the fantastic  people I’ve worked  with  over  the  past  40 years. One  of  the  things  I  have found  most  rewarding  is the role  of business  in helping  to change  people’s  lives.

“I  was  privileged  to  be chairman  of Tesco Charity Trust  in the UK and internationally. I  have  also enjoyed  working with  the  amazing team  at  Whizz-Kidz, who  provide  wheelchairs for  disabled children.”

Sir David is also Patron of the charity Caravan and in November 2010 he was appointed one of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Business Ambassadors.

Read Sir David’s full biography on our Trustees, Ambassadors, and Patrons page.

The young people – all from the Midlands and aged between 10 and 25 – had a chance to meet new young friends from the region, share experiences and have a lot of fun.

Across the Midlands region there are over 150 young disabled people that regularly attended Whizz-Kidz’s ‘Kidz Unlimited’ Ambassador Clubs – a nationwide project that supports disabled children and young adults to learn new skills like wheelchair training, sports, drama, teamwork, and undertake work placements locally.

Catherine Lissaman, Ambassador Club Midlands Coordinator said, “The young people from Dudley, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Stoke-On-Trent, Lincoln, Leicester and Nottingham all had a fantastic day – and it was an amazing way to end a very successful year of activities.

“These young people would not have had this opportunity were it not for the generous team at the NEC Crowne Plaza who have supported us every step of the way. We were blown away.”

Donna and Shane, parents of a young Dudley Ambassador who attended, said ”Shane and I would like to thank all the other members of staff for a truly amazing time at the Christmas party. It was great to see the kids have such a fab time and really enjoying themselves – it brought a tear to my eye.”

The staff at NEC Crowne Plaza have been raising money for the charity over the last two years, and including the £2,440 cheque their fundraising activities over the last 12 months alone totals £5,000.

Whether you’re a volunteer, an ambassador, a fundraiser, a corporate partner, an old friend, a new friend – we really value you.

Together we helped:

• 1,410 children and young people get the right mobility equipment for them – up 40% on 2010
• 1,350 children and young people gain new skills; including wheelchair skills training, campaigning and life skills, and work placements – up 40% on 2010.

We played a large role in successfully lobbying for Any Qualified Provider in children’s wheelchair provision – meaning Whizz-Kidz can potentially reach more children in 2012.

And the Health Secretary, Prime Minister, and senior Department of Health and NHS executives all championed Whizz-Kidz’s work this year.

As we did last year, we thought we’d share some pictures of all the fun we had in 2011.

Enjoy the slideshow, and we wish you all the very best and a happy Christmas. Shall we do it all again – and more – in 2012?

“Sorry, it’s a no” by musician Tim Hain is an amusing and affectionate take on the experience of the programme for those singers knocked-back, and includes wheelchair-user and ex-Kidz Board member Asta Philpot.

Asta and Tim believe that everyone has something to give, and should have a genuine chance to shine as individuals. Every copy of “Sorry, it’s a no” downloaded from iTunes will help Whizz-Kidz support more disabled young people to lead active and independent lives, and reach their own ambitions .

So, that’s a big “yes” from us!

Here’s the video, and you can buy the track now on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sorry-its-a-no/id407490172

The bulk of these valuable funds has come from staff fundraising – such as a team that battled the Three Peaks Challenge this summer. Congratulations to Nick Taylor, David Strzelecki, Ian Brooks, Jason Crawley, and David Crawley for raising £10,000 through this event alone!

However, as well as fundraising, Cantillon’s staff have volunteered tens of hours at many Whizz-Kidz Ambassador clubs and Wheelchair Skills training days – providing invaluable hands-on support to young people; helping improve their skills, mobility and independence.

Managing Director Michael Cantillon says, “Whizz Kidz is such a great charity, and whilst we have raised and donated money to them, we have also received such fantastic experiences from the kids and the staff during our volunteer and ambassador days which help us appreciate the good work they do and see for ourselves the difference that they make to the children’s lives.

L-R – David Strzelecki, Jason Crawley, David Crawley, Nick Taylor

“These experiences will stay with us for a life time. We look forward to 2012 and doing more for Whizz Kidz.”

We’d like to offer our huge thanks, and looking forward to celebrating more in the coming year.

Members from 40 UK wide health clubs are joining together to collectively swim the equivalent distance around the British Isles in 7 days, from 5 – 11 December.

The national event is raising money for Whizz-Kidz – a charity that provides disabled children and young people with the essential mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods.

Speaking at the poolside of her local Club in Cambridge, Fran, Sports Ambassador for the charity said: “I want to thank the Spirit Health Clubs for supporting Whizz-Kidz – a charity very close to my heart, and one I’m proud to be a Champion of. I’ve met many young people through working with the charity this year, and – having supported Great Britain at the highest level of competitive swimming level – I know they can accomplish their own ambitions with a bit of support and the right mobility. This fundraising will help hugely.”

Mark Mantell, UK&I Operations Manager for Spirit Health Club, said: “Our members are committed swimmers and have always been incredibly supportive of great causes, I know they will throw themselves into this challenge as a means of setting themselves a personal goal and also to support the great work Whizz-Kidz do”.

“Spirit are supporting Whizz-Kidz as their nominated charity for 2011 because they do incredibly valuable work and also share a common philosophy with Spirit. Spirit Health Clubs are not just about looking good through exercise, our aim is to help our members get the most out of life and Whizz-Kidz does exactly the same for young disabled people. There are an estimated 70,000 disabled children and young people in theUKwaiting for a wheelchair that fits their young lives – we’re keen to do whatever we can to help.”

Kat Hopps, Corporate Partnership Fundraiser added:

“We are excited by The Great Spirit Swim– the fact that the task hinges upon accomplishing a collective goal resonates with how we work with young people – supporting them to work, play and socialize. Well done and good luck to everyone taking part – and thanks to Fran for lending her support!”

Rob Dyson, Whizz-Kidz, Fran Williamson, Whizz-Kidz Paralympic Ambassador, Mark Mantell, Spirit Health Clubs

Participants in The Great Spirit Swim are invited to make a donation of their choice and then record the number of lengths they swim during the one week period, which are added to the accumulative club and national total.  25,000 members and guests across the group will be invited to take part with the aim of raising £20,000.

IHG’s UK & Ireland Managed Estate is supporting Whizz-Kidz throughout 2011 and 2011 to help local disabled children and young people. Employees from 64 Holiday Inns andCrownePlazasaround theUKwill be hoping to raise £100,000 in 2011 to support disabled children and young people become more independent, through vital mobility equipment, wheelchair and life skills training.

Visit www.spirithealthclubs.co.uk for more.