Wheelchair skills training helps young people to become independent

A good day was had by all who attended a Wheelchair Skills Workshop, organised by Warwickshire's Integrated Disability Service (IDS), in collaboration with the National Charity Go Kids Go on Thursday 7 November 2019. 

The one-day event was hosted at Weddington Primary School in Nuneaton and gave 12 young people from across the county an opportunity to learn new skills helping them to gain more independence and meet other children who use both manual and powered wheelchairs. 

The school hall and outdoor facilities provided the ideal space for the young people to learn new ways of manoeuvring up and down surfaces, practice safe road crossing and even try out a few handy dance moves just in time for their Christmas parties! Parents and carers also had the opportunity to get involved and try out the wheelchairs for themselves. The day concluded with a rather competitive game of wheelchair basketball! 

There was lots of positive feedback from both the young people and their families on the day and it was such a success that IDS is hoping to organise similar workshops next year. In the meantime, they hope to support Roy Wild and his team from Go Kids Go, in raising some much needed funds so they can continue to offer these opportunities to young people free of charge.

So, look out for further news of their fundraising event in spring 2020!