Charity promotes award scheme (From Penarth Times)

Charity promotes award scheme

DISABLED youngsters at a Penarth school were joined by rugby stars this week to help launch a national charity's search for local winners.

Pupils at Ysgol Erw'r Delyn were joined by representatives from charity Whizz-Kidz which is looking for youngsters to apply for a Whizz-Kidz No Limits Millennium Award.

Alexandra Strick, Whizz-Kidz No Limits Millennium Awards project manager, and Jenny Davies, Whizz-Kidz mobility therapist for Wales, gave a talk about the awards to pupils at the school.

Lending their support were Welsh rugby stars, Cardiff and Wales forward and Penarth resident, Spencer John, and former Welsh international Rupert Moon.

The UK-wide Awards are for young people aged 12-18 with a permanent disability affecting their mobility.

The award gives them an opportunity to undertake a new activity, such as learning a new skill, fulfiling an ambition or helping shape a career after school or college.

The chosen award project could be related to sport, design, fashion, web, journalism, music, and campaigning, to name but a few, with the application fitting into one of three Award categories: Social and Community Activities; Disability Awareness and Integration; or Active and Outdoor Pursuits.

Around 30 awards will be granted in round two and successful applicants will be given a mentor and receive support, training and a financial grant (of an average £4,200) to run their project.

Spencer John said: "The Whizz-Kidz No Limits Millennium Awards are a fantastic way of achieving a goal or turning a great idea into reality and really are an opportunity not to be missed. I would urge disabled youngsters in this area to apply today."

For more information phone 020 7233 6600, email nolimitsawards@whizz-kidz.org.uk or log on to www.whizz-kidz.org.uk. The closing date for round two is July 2.

The awards are part of a £200 million programme of schemes from the Millennium Commission and funded by the National Lottery.