HAC & Disability Challengers

Help Autistic Children has created close links with children’s charity Disability Challengers ever since the start of the Big Play Appeal was established to raise £3 million for a new play and youth facility for disabled children and young people in Farnham.

With very similar aims to support disabled children and their families, HAC decided to take on the huge challenge of raising £60,000 to install a double storey softplay at the Challengers Farnham Playcentre. This was a huge project which involved taking out the Victorian roof ties and installing steel supports which could hold a XY hoist. The Hoist enabled wheelchair users to access the second floor of the softplay and use all the great equipment.

The softplay is an essential part of the centre and offers an exciting aspect to play and helps disabled children run around and use up some energy. It is also a great place for children who have mobility impairments to practise walking without worrying about hurting themselves. But one of the most important aspects of the softplay is it gives an instant ‘wow’ factor which helps children who are new to the centre to settle in quickly. This is incredibly important when we consider that these families have often never left their child in the care of anyone else before.

HAC raised the funds through a number of fundraising events organised by HAC. These included a Bojangles Ball sponsored by Click Group and the sell out annual golf fundraiser at the prestigious Hankley Common Golf Club.

In addition to all the funds raised by HAC, the children and young people who attend Disability Challengers were very lucky to receive a electric John Deere tractor which all the children have taken to with huge enthusiasm!

“We can’t thank HAC enough for their tremendous support and helping Disability Challengers create such an amazing softplay at our new centre in Farnham.” said Adam Edwards from Disability Challengers “Without the support of HAC we wouldn’t have been able to afford such an amazing piece of equipment so we would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard and donated to HAC.”

For more information on Disability Challengers, please visit www.disability-challengers.org