The Healing, Teaching and Chivalric Order of St Raphael
Ashley and Alysia gave us some of the background to Whizz-Kidz in a most enlightening and informative talk. Whizz-Kidz is in fact the working name of The Movement for Non-Mobile Children, the Registered Charity which enables disabled children gain mobility and discover independence.
Last year, they raised £4.7m in voluntary income. 74p in every £1 donated goes to their front line services. It costs on average £10 per day to provide Whizz-Kidz services to an individual young wheelchair user. Over a 16 year period, it costs £60,000 to support a child. Across the whole of the UK, there are some 4000 children receiving support with ages ranging from 4 to 18. There are around 480 pieces of mobility equipment in use provided by Whizz-Kidz.
The charity has a staff of 18 Fundraisers, and an Ambassador network of 300 young people from age 8 to 25. The younger ones bear the title of Junior Ambassador. There is also a network of volunteers who assist in practical ways. One fascinating innovation is the Kidz Board of 13 young people – mainly teenagers, who represent different areas across the UK.
We in turn explained the aims and objectives of the Order of St Raphael. The
Grand Master described how he had selected Whizz-Kidz for our charitable focus,
this being a charity known to him though his former work at the Peabody Trust.
We were delighted to present to Whizz-Kidz our first donation of £1000.
Ashley Westpfel would be delighted to come and present at meetings of our
Order, so members, friends and guests can hear about the work of Whizz-Kidz
first-hand. There are a number of ways our members can help. In particular,
Whizz-Kidz are looking for people who can give short talks on the work of the
charity, to organisations, clubs etc. as a means of getting the message across.