WIREDGOV

The charity Whizz-Kidz has been awarded a £5.3 million Lottery grant to provide 10,000 new opportunities for disabled children to improve their futures.

The multi-million pound grant comes from the Big Lottery Fund which is responsible for giving out 40 per cent of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery. This week the National Lottery celebrates 20 years of changing lives.

Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with vital mobility equipment, opportunities to meet and have fun as well as skills needed for the future. The grant will enable Whizz-Kidz to provide more of its services than ever before through clubs, camps, wheelchair skills training and work placements.

The charity’s project will tackle issues facing young wheelchair users including social isolation, dependency on family and carers, lack of skills, confidence and experience.

The charity will provide young people with the skills needed to independently operate a wheelchair with confidence, opportunities to form better social networks, fun residential breaks away from parents and support to gain work experience. A volunteering and young leaders programme will provide opportunities to assist with and deliver these services as well as monitoring and evaluation progress.

Ruth Owen OBE, Chief Executive of Whizz-Kidz, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this transformative funding from the Big Lottery Fund, which will support our bold and dynamic vision to enhance the life chances of thousands of disabled children, young people, and their families across England.

“Whizz-Kidz is committed to empowering young people with the tools they need to lead active and fulfilling childhoods, contribute to their communities, and reach their future potential.”

The recent grant comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme which helps people and communities most in need.

Tim Davies-Pugh, Big Lottery Fund Deputy Director of England, said: “We know that Whizz-Kidz’ network of clubs, camps and training make a huge difference to children's lives, giving them the skills and experience needed to access routes into independence and employment. The project has the potential to benefit countless individuals and influence the thinking of policy-makers and service providers from across the country.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to Lottery players. National Lottery funding has made a life-changing difference to individuals and communities across the UK.”

Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @biglotteryfund #BigLottery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund

For funding and general enquiries call:

BIG Advice Line: 0345 4 10 20 30

For press enquiries call:

Press Office:  020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £32 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.