National children’s charity, Cerebra, has won the Health Social Care and Wellbeing Award at the Third Sector Awards Cymru organised by umbrella organisation Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
The Health, Social Care and Wellbeing award is aimed at organisations that help people to be happier and healthier through intervention/preventative work, maintaining independent living and self care. Cerebra aims to improve the lives of children and young people with neurological conditions, through research and on-going support and won the award for the pioneering work of its Innovation Centre.
The Cerebra Innovation Centre (CIC) is a research and design service set up to help children with disabilities find specialist equipment and adaptations that are not already available to buy. The CIC is made up of a small team of engineers and designers who are able to make almost anything needed; offering expertise in areas of electronics, design and engineering and working with a range of industry partners and other charities to ensure products are tested to the highest standard.
The conditions of the children Cerebra supports can mean that they need specific equipment or mobility aids to ensure they can participate as fully as possible in social and school activities. The main aim of the CIC is to produce functional, aesthetically pleasing products to help. Seven year old Annie May has global development delay and cerebral palsy. Her parents contacted Cerebra about designing a form of transport for her to get around as she is unable to walk and used to shuffle everywhere on her bottom. The scoot seat was the result – a low padded platform with space for her to hold on and robust castor wheels. It enabled Annie May to get around the house at speed, which she loves.
The CIC works with over 50 families each year to make a positive difference to the lives of their children. Each item that is designed and built or adapted has a different meaning to the child it's made for. It may help with moving around, it may make learning easier, it may keep them safe or it may help them to be included in play with friends. Feedback from families confirms that the products help children with disabilities to be children first.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Cerebra Chief Executive Chris Jones said "We are delighted to have won this award. The work of the Innovation Centre makes such a positive difference to the lives of families by designing practical solutions to everyday problems and we are thrilled that this innovative work has been recognised".
The winners of the Third Sector Awards Cymru were announced on the 19th of January 2012 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff.