Above photo: Team AFK at the Test Event

As part of our series of work looking back on the 2012 Paralympics, Lyn Prodger, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Action for Kids (AFK), has spoken to us about the 2012 Paralympics and how AFK was involved, and what impact the games had on the organisation and its beneficiaries, back then and now.

What does your organisation do?
Disabled children and young people face massive barriers to accessing appropriate equipment, education, employment, healthcare, housing and society in general. AFK believes in a world where everyone with a disability lives the life they choose.   We are passionate about ensuring a better future for everyone with disabilities. We focus on the child or young person’s potential to benefit from our support and not the hurdles they face. To achieve this:

• We fund specialist mobility equipment nationally for children and young people with disabilities from 0 – 26. The equipment we fund is recommended by, but unavailable from, the NHS and includes powered, manual and sports wheelchairs, specialist trikes and buggies.
• We work with young people aged 11-26 in London with disabilities and autism to introduce them to the world of work, develop the life and work skills needed to prepare them for life after school and to move into employment or self-employment.

Can you share any memories from the 2012 Paralympics, specifically on how your organisation and your beneficiaries were involved? London 2012 was an incredible and unforgettable time for AFK and our community. Our founder, Sally Bishop and two beneficiaries took part in the Paralympic torch relay, our beneficiaries were invited to take part in the test event for the opening ceremony and one of our trainees who has a learning disability was a dancer in the ceremony.

We hold an annual charity pop-up beach volleyball tournament in the City and in 2012 the mascots and Team GB were involved!

What impact did the Paralympics have on your organisation, your beneficiaries and your sector (back then and now)? We have held several events in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the last 10 years and the legacy of ‘inspiring a generation’ is so evident. This impact can still be felt in so many ways. East London has a fabulous space that welcomes families, charities and the community. As a sector many of our mobility equipment beneficiaries told us that going to the Paralympics felt like a really inclusive and eye-opening experience (for the public). Steph, a wheelchair user told us that there were so many different types of chair and assistive tech that she didn’t feel out of place or that people were looking at her. We had access to numerous sporting grants for young disabled people to get active too.

Do you have anything to add about any work done with ELBA recently, or in the past decade? Or any work you’re planning to do going forward?  Having the support of ELBA and their network makes a massive difference here at AFK. They have provided many pro bono training options for our team and recently assisted us in the process of recruiting new trainees.

Below photos:
1. Sally. Lorna, Lizzie (and Eli) – AFK Paralympic Torch Relay team
2. AFK takes part in the opening ceremony test event