Vote For AFK This January and Show Your Support For Disabled Children and Young People

Posted on 14 Dec 2020 by Amy Jackson
Action For Kids (AFK) is a national charity that supports disabled children and young people by funding specialist mobility equipment and providing Education, Training, and Employability programmes.

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About AFK


AFK was founded by Sally Bishop in 1992 and known as the “Action For Kids Charitable Trust,” after successfully helping a family based in London to raise funds for their disabled son’s powered wheelchair which was not covered by the NHS.

Since 1992, AFK has grown in both size and scope to address the wider needs of disabled children and young people, enabling them to overcome many of the social, physical, and financial barriers to their independence. The charity provides a range of programmes to address their mission to give as many disabled young people as possible the opportunity to work or volunteer in their community, and to create a world where everyone living with a disability lives the life they choose.

 

Mobility Equipment


In the UK, there are an estimated 360,000 children and young people aged 0-24 who have a disability that affects their mobility, meaning at some point in their life, they need specialist equipment. To address this need, AFK’s mobility services team funds mobility equipment not covered by the NHS to disabled children and young people up to their 25th birthday, all around the UK. This includes powered and manual wheelchairs, specialist trikes, powerpacks and power assists, car seats, hoists and walkers. They also crucially, and uniquely, fund all maintenance and repair costs for the powerchairs they provide. In addition, they offer advocacy support to ensure statutory services have provided appropriate support where necessary and the small, expert team are available to help applicants and their families with fundraising.

 

Training & Employability Programmes


In the UK, there are 1.4 million people who have a learning disability, however only 6% are in paid employment. This is due to a number of factors, such as social stigma, lack of opportunities, and a lack of education and training. AFK aims to address these issues through their Aspiring to Work, Preparation For Work, and Into Work programmes. These programmes take a practical and multi-faceted approach to help disabled young people between the ages of 11 and 26. This includes a wide range of personalised education, training and employability programmes and work placements for young people and schools in North and East London. With the help of highly experienced job coaches, the charity helps young people to find employment, provide support into and throughout, and to support employers in supporting their young people.

 

Activity Programmes


AFK also runs an activity programme that operates during school holidays for disabled youth aged 14-25. The activity programme provides a safe and inclusive environment for young people with learning disabilities to meet new people and try new activities. The programme has a variety of sports, arts and recreational activities, which promote and build confidence, develop social skills, overcome fear or anxiety and help improve physical and mental health. The programme helps to promote independence and encourages attendees to make choices, give their opinion, try new activities and meet with new people.

Find out more by visiting www.my-afk.org.

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