Childhood Can’t Wait Appeal

Whizz Kidz, the UK charity which provides wheelchairs and support to young people across the country, has been forced to close its waitlist for the first time in its 35-year history.

The charity has launched an urgent appeal to raise £750,000 to reopen the waitlist and begin reducing an 18-month backlog.

Over £175,000 has been raised since the Childhood Can’t Wait appeal launched on October 1, but more needs to be done to get vital equipment to disabled young people.

Thousands of children are currently facing months of delay before they’ll even be assessed for a life‑changing wheelchair, according to Whizz Kidz.

But the charity says squeezed NHS budgets, which have led local services to narrow who qualifies for equipment, have forced it to stop taking new applicants.

The charity also said that inflation is causing specialist wheelchair equipment prices to climb by 10-13% every year, meaning that many families can’t afford to pay for their own.

And while other charities have closed their funding programmes, Whizz Kidz has been left as one of the last lifelines for families in need.

To find out more visit https://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/childhood-cant-wait/