Percy Hedley Foundation

Current Appeals

Sport for All

The Academy for Disability Sports was officially opened in October 2005 and many children and young people with disabilities now have the opportunity to take part and compete in new and exciting sports. The Academy is being well used by Percy Hedley students and service users and disabled people from the wider community. We are still fundraising to provide more specialist sporting and fitness training equipment so that many more young people with disabilities in the region have a sporting chance.

We are now working hard on the promotion of Powerchair Football and Powerchair Rugby in the hope that they will become Paralympic sports of the future. The rules of Powerchair Football and Powerchair Rugby, which were devised by Percy Hedley pupils, have recently been adopted as the national standard by the FA and RFU. This is great news for Percy Hedley and for disability sports in general. The priority now is to attract commercial sponsorship for the Panthers Sports Club to pay for equipment, sports kit and travel/accommodation costs for tournaments.

Because of the increased activities at the Sports Academy we have raised awareness of disability sport amongst mainstream sporting organisations and the general public. The future is very promising for Percy Hedley students and adult service users and in association with the English Federation of Disability Sport we hope to develop regional, national and international leagues and competitions. Our main aim is to continue to provide sporting opportunities for people with complex disabilities here in the North East and to continue to raise awareness of the need for disability sports.

If you think you can help or would like further information please ring the Fundraising Office on 0191 2665491 or e-mail desbustard@percyhedley.org.uk.

“Please help us to ensure that many more people with disabilities in the region have a sporting chance.”

Jack Charlton OBE DL
Appeal Patron

"Although I’ve achieved a lot in the sporting field over the last few years, my road to success has been very difficult. Sadly this is due to the lack of adequate facilities for disabled people not just in the North East but all over the country. I'm even more aware of this now that I coach disabled people. That's why I'm delighted to give my personal support to the North East Academy for Disability Sports which will be yet another first for our region and will provide opportunities for disabled sport to grow."

Stephen Miller
Paralympic Athlete

Percy Hedley Integrated Nursery

The new Nursery is on our Northern Counties site in Jesmond and is an integrated nursery for all children, including those with special needs. It provides places for children from three months who require specialist support as well as children from the local community. Prior to the opening of the nursery this service did not exist for parents of disabled babies and at least one parent had to be a full time carer with little respite. Thanks to the generous support of local trusts, companies and individuals the new nursery is now up and running and parents now have the option of leaving their disabled babies with the peace of mind that they are being looked after by specialist staff in specialist facilities.

Although the Nursery is operational there is still much to be done. We are still raising funds to provide more specialist therapy equipment, mobility and communication aids so that all the children can join together in play activities. We also would like to create exciting and stimulating outdoor play environments including a sensory garden play area. Future facilities will hopefully include a family resource centre and meeting rooms to provide information and support for parents of children with special needs.

If you think you can help or would like further information please ring Des in the Fundraising Office on 0191 2665491 or e-mail desbustard@percyhedley.org.uk.

Family Support

Together we can give children with cerebral palsy the best start in life

Children with disabilities and their families need greater help at the earliest possible stage, yet very little is available. That’s why Percy Hedley Foundation has recently introduced a free Family Support Service to offer children with complex disabilities the best possible start in life.

The Percy Hedley Family Centre is located within our primary school in Forest Hall and provides a range of facilities, services and activities to help parents and carers to work constructively with their children. They are encouraged to participate in group programmes which involve children in activities specially designed to increase mobility and develop independence. These include sitting, standing, walking, changing place and position, manipulation and cognitive development.

“Since attending Percy Hedley Jimmy has progressed in leaps and bounds. He has met all of his targets and is now able to walk, swim, use his adapted bike and loves football. He really is a contented child now”.
Kim - Jimmy’s mum.

“Before Lewis had his Dynavox, communication with him was very limited and relied on him giving yes or no answers and eye pointing. This was very frustrating for us all. Lewis now uses his Dynavox most of the time to voice his opinions and make himself understood. This obviously works to his advantage and he has become extremely cheeky - showing that he is a true nine year old!”.
Wendy - Lewis’s mum.

“The network of support is very valuable, as being the parent of a disabled child can be very lonely and daunting. I’ve learned a lot through the group therapy sessions which we can continue at home.”
Carol - Harry’s mum.

What’s possible with your support

There is still an urgent need to help many more children with cerebral palsy and their families in their vital early years.

• £25 will enable us to purchase an adapted toy.
• £100 will purchase a ‘Big Mack’ communication aid.
• £500 will enable us to purchase remote control toys for a Home Loan Service.
• £2,000 will purchase specialist switches and remote controls for children to use computers.
• £5,000 will enable us to purchase a voice output mini-computer.
• £10,000 will purchase specialist equipment for vital therapy sessions.
• £30,000 will run group therapy sessions for a whole year.

Just think what's possible ...

Modern technology can transform the lives of children with complex disabilities. It can enable children without speech to communicate and those who cannot hold a book or a pen to enter the world of learning.

We urgently need specialist therapy equipment, mobility and communication aids so that children can learn to be as independent as possible and lead full and active lives.

... with your help