Scouts reach money target for all terrain wheelchair to support young people across the region
A South Tyneside scout group are looking to a positive future after fundraising for an all terrain wheelchair.
A series of events and fundraising efforts have helped children at a South Tyneside Scout group find additional freedom.
The team at the East Boldon Scout Group realised the need for a chair following a visit to Derwent Hill Outdoor Education and Training Centre.
“There’s children in our group who can now access everything we do with more ease than they could before” explains Matt Allison, who is one of the leaders of the group.
“They always gave everything a go, nothing would stop them. But it was more tiring for them. The older they got, the more adventures they wanted to do and the all-terrain wheelchair means they’ve got something which can support them to do that.”
A real community asset
The wheelchair can also be used to support young people as they work through their Duke Of Edinburgh Awards.
East Boldon’s group currently have two people who use the chair, but their group leader explained the chair is an extended community asset now.
“It’s available if there are other children in South Tyneside Scouts who would want to use it.
“We’ve bought it for our group but there is the opportunity that another group could borrow it” he adds.
“At Derwenthill one of the boys used it and we saw the difference”.
They decided to raise the funds on the same day to buy a chair of their own.
As for the fundraising, the group took ran wreath making sessions and sold kits in addition to pairing with East Boldon’s Pop Up Choir to give the group’s Christmas funds to the Scouts.
Local churches and scout groups also assisted to raise over £5,000.
“We’ve been on the search for the right chair which fits our needs” adds Matt.
‘His face lit up’
“One fot he boys has been in the group since he was six.
“His face when he got into the chair just lit up.
“It could have cost a million pounds and it wouldn’t have mattered.
“It makes a massive difference for him and his family were blown away when they saw the wheelchair.
“We want these children to have the best experience.”