funding for Tomcat trike - suggestions please!

[hazeyjane]

Ds has recently had a trial on a Tomcat, it was fantastic, he loved it and as he seems to be relying on his buggy (or being carried!) more and more, I am determined to get one for him. The benefit to his muscles and core strength would be fantastic, it would give him great sensory input (he loves speed!) and he could join in with his sisters on their scooters.

The quote we have been given is £1738 (gulp), we can fund about £400 ourselves, but will need to seek funding for the rest. I have downloaded the Cerebra grant form, but will need to wait for references from 2 professionals (and everyone I have emailed is on bloody holiday). Has anyone any suggestions for any other charities? We are in Wiltshire, and I know that sometimes local charities are better than the large ones.

I would organise a cake sale/dress up day at the dds school for some (I have done this for Portage and Jeans For Genes and raised quite a lot of money), but don't feel right doing this for a specific item for my own child!

Any suggestions would be great, thankyou.

Family Fund Trust? Its mean tested though.

thanks tempe, we had a family fund grant earlier in the year for a swing. They also like to fund whole items rather than part payments towards a larger amount.

Hmmm.

Local facebook appeal? Local businesses? Church?

Anything I can do to help locally?

There was a lot of local in that. Sorry.

haha, AtYourCervix - is this you and Mr AYC??

hadn't thought of FB, thankyou. If I do end up doing a fundraiser, you can buy a cake, AYC

Polter, will have a look at that page.

Have just had a call out of the blue from ds's OT so have asked her for a reference, she agrees it would be fab for him.

I've been outed!

Really though. If I could do anything please let me know. It's hard asking for something for yourself. Much easier asking for someone else.

And I make good cake. Could do a saturday cake sale outside the bank?

I'm afraid very afraid of Edward and tubbs a charity called cauldwell children mention they fund equipment , I think
People would pay not to eat my cakes

They mention funding trikes

www.special-needs-kids.co.uk/financial.htm

Here's a start

www.disability-grants.org

And more!

The charity Cerebra is another .

The Variety Club very generously gave my son a trike. I would never have believed he could even sit on one but it was adapted accordingly. it was a few years ago now so I am not sure if they still help out like this.

thankyou for all these suggestions, they are great.

I met with the physio and ot in an emergency appointment yesterday and they both agreed the trike would be great so are emailing me references in the next few days.

I will keep everything crossed that we are successful (otherwise I will be calling on you to make and flog many cakes, AtYourCervix!!)

Cerebra funded ours, unfortunately this is the last year Ds1 will fit it and it's becoming more and more useful as we often take it instead of a wheelchair.
I don't think we fit cerebra's criteria any more and really can't finds a replacement ourselves... Just going to look for a magic wand!

We used the brilliant caudwell children. The form was very detailed , they wanted accounts from DP's business but they came back within 5-6 wks and funded a large, make that huge, amount of the trike. They also funded a huge amount of a specialist car seat for us. You can start the process online.
DD's trike is being delivered next week.... I am so so excited! We are getting an "imp" trike from theraplay. Go to caudwell children Hazey!

Local Rotary clubs and lions clubs are usually good at funding these types of things.
They also come up on ebay and FB SN selling sites. You could get a second hand bike and add any extra bits that are needed directly from Tomcat. We have a tomcat and it's ace.