Wizzybug is a powered wheelchair specifically designed for disabled children aged between 14months and 5 years. Designability, a national charity based in Bath, makes Wizzybugs and provides them on a long-term loan free of charge to disabled children across the UK, giving them independent mobility often for the first time in their lives.
Annabelle (pictured) loves her Wizzybug! She’s really happy to just be driving around and exploring. Her favourite thing to do is to go as far away as possible from us and looking back and laughing when she sees how far she has got because that is something she is unable to do at any other time!
“She also loves to play hide and seek whilst in Wizzybug with her younger sister Isla. The Wizzybug allows them to play together and chase each other. It’s allowed Annabelle to push boundaries and be mischievous; things which every child should do!
“Designability and the Wizzybug Loan Scheme have made such a difference to us as a family and there are thousands of children out there who could benefit from it – the more people that can find out about it the better!” Annabelle’s mum.
Designability want to reach more children than would be possible if all families had to travel to Bath, where the charity is based – Wizzybugs are already available through two Driving Mobility centres, William Merritt Centre in Leeds, and Mae Murray Foundation in Northern Ireland.
Designability would like to expand, through partnerships with more centres. In this first phase of expansion, they are looking for partners in the East, South and/or Midland regions of England. There will then be further expansion into other regions across England, as well as into Wales and Scotland.
Driving Mobility is excited to support this initiative – so if you would like to be one of the first centres to offer Wizzybug, or have any questions, please get in touch with George Leroy, Head of Operations at Designability at georgeleroy@designability.org.uk