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CharityProfile-Remap helpingpeoplewitha disability
UK Charity Remap
Helping make things possible for people with disability
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Bespoke equipment designed & supplied for free Remap is a charity that helps people with disability to achieve greater independence and quality of life. Volunteers design and make bespoke equipment for people of all age groups and ethnicities, and varying conditions and disabilities. Affordability is not an issue since equipment is provided by the charity free of charge. Whether a simple adaptation of a clothes peg to help a one-armed person hang washing on the line, a modification to a standard wheelchair or rollator to suit a specific person’s need or helping a person with arthritis in their wrists to continue playing the piano, the charity does it all. Essential Person with arthritis assisted to equipment that play the piano might simply help someone use bathroom facilities can tremendously boost their independence. There are many happy beneficiaries – to them, additional independence or being able to do something easier than before, is a major boost. The charity focuses on providing equipment which isn’t readily available under NHS or normal commercial routes. It relies on volunteers with various engineering or practical DIY skills, or occupational therapy knowhow, or administration experience. There are 70 local groups across the UK, comprising around 900 volunteers in total, undertaking 3000 projects each year. Steve Whyley Chairman Local Remap groups in Sussex Steve Whyley, who lives in Storrington, is the chairman of the local group carrying out the Remap projects in West and East Sussex, he tells Sussex Local - “We have a team of around 25 people centred around the Brighton area and we need more volunteers, offering whatever time they can spare, to help us ensure we can support as many people as we can, and to ‘make things possible’ for our beneficiaries. Our local group’s area of interest is along the south coast from Littlehampton across to Eastbourne, and
Bespoke wheelchair made by Remap
northwards to Horsham. There are similar neighbouring local groups covering Chichester and Portsmouth, and in Surrey, and others right across the UK.” Helping people with all sorts of disabilities “We help people with a diverse range of ages and conditions. For example, medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinsons Disease, etc; physical conditions such as amputees, little people, and arthritis, or consequences of a stroke; issues like reduced flexibility, strength, and co-ordination; wheelchair or bed / armchair bound difficulties.” The design process Steve explains the process further - “Once the initial enquiry is received, our occupational therapy (OT) volunteer experts in the group review the needs of potential beneficiaries to make sure that the issues and requirements are understood. They often make first contact to discuss further before considering the practical or engineering skills to tackle the case. It is often the situation that standard and readily available equipment is not appropriate for a person’s specific requirements, which sometimes involves multiple conditions. A volunteer engineer visits to discuss the ‘specification requirements’ and agrees a plan of action with the beneficiary. Often, carers, or parents, or the NHS OT representative are also present during these visits. “Equipment is often designed and made in volunteer’s homes/workshops and sometimes one of the volunteers might be the lead contact with the beneficiary, and determines what needs
to be made, while another volunteer makes the equipment for them. Repeat visits to deliver equipment or to ensure correct operation are undertaken and to ensure successful completion to the satisfaction of the beneficiary.” From sandwich makers to sewing machines “Skills in the local Remap group range from woodwork, metalwork, electrical and control equipment, polypropylene adaptations, and 3D printing. Several examples of work done include: · Client with MD has difficulty holding a cup for drinking – we designed and made a plastic handle to work with a doidy (slanted) cup. · Wheelchair user with no leg muscle control is unable to operate electric sewing machine with foot pedal – we designed a bluetooth controlled device which enables the machine to be operated using the foot pedal hanging around the operator’s neck. · Client with stroke associated complications –
Sandwich assembler / cutter we designed a sandwich assembler and cutter so he could safely make a sandwich and cut it into quarters. · Client with cognitive impairment needs bespoke eating utensils to reduce effort needed to bring utensils close to mouth. We developed and optimised left-handed, long handled angled spoons. · Wheelchair user needs protective cover on exposed wheelchair post, to enable him to transfer sideways from wheelchair to static chair · Modifications to height of commode to allow independent transfer out of bed · Wheelchair user needs a bespoke docking bar to connect to the motorised “add on” to enable her to move independently” How is Remap funded? While volunteer time is free, the costs of materials or purchased items, and other expenses need to be funded, so that the beneficiary is not charged for the equipment. Steve tells us “the charity relies wholly on grants, donations, legacies and other fundraising activities to generate these funds. Locally, we appreciate the support of the Sussex
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Community Foundation that has provided us with a grant for the last 2 years, and this has been combined with generous donations from happy beneficiaries or local organisations. We need additional funds on a continuing basis as the cost of materials increases, and we are finding that we are carrying out one or two more complex cases which in turn require more sophisticated and more expensive equipment. “Our local group receives around 45 enquiries every year, and we have around 25 ‘live’ ongoing cases at any one time. We carry out over 1200 hours of volunteer activity. The number of cases is increasing through greater awareness of the charity activities combined with the desire of people with disability to enhance their day-to-day quality of life, or to be able to do more activity, independently if possible.” Diamond Jubilee The charity’s Diamond Jubilee is in 2024, as it was established in 1964 as a single small group of volunteers mainly from ICI on Teesside. From 1968 it’s had a number of local groups around the UK. Steve’s group in Sussex was set up in 1976 by staff and students at Brighton University, one of its original founders is still involved. Get in touch If you are interested in volunteering or in providing a donation, please contact Remap via the website www.remap.org.uk or send an email to: data@remap.org.uk, or contact Steve Whyley directly, for information in the local Sussex area Brighton.Chairman@remapgroups.org.uk. Potential beneficiaries can contact the local group either directly, or via their Occupational Therapy (OT) contact if relevant, or via the charity website where you can give some basic information on the potential need. This information is passed to the relevant Remap group which covers your area, in full confidence of protection of personal information and data. Remap is a registered charity, number 1137666.
In an idyllic rural location in Storrington
Sussexdown residential, nursing and dementia care – warmly welcoming
new residents and inviting families and friends visiting their loved ones to share in the Food, Fun and Friendship
