Graduate's therapy service to expand treatment to wheelchair users

Generous funding will allow wheelchair users to access revolutionary trampoline therapy for the first time. 

A £10,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund will help Callum Mackinnon’s social enterprise, Forth Valley Rebound Therapy Service CIC, to buy a hoist and include wheelchair users in the service.

The company, based in Stirling, is Scotland’s first and only open referral service for Rebound Therapy to help children and adults with various additional support needs to achieve increased physical, social and sensory benefits, by using a trampoline for therapeutic use.

It has supported over 70 children and adults with a range of physical and mental disabilities.

Wheelchair users could not safely access the trampoline previously, which led Callum to apply for funding to open up his service to all.

Callum, a Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) Occupational Therapy graduate, said: “We haven’t been able to treat individuals with a severe physical disability or wheelchair users until now as there is no access to a suitable hoist.  The new hoist will allow more people to benefit from our service. It’s exciting to think that now we can welcome a whole new intake of young people and adults in wheelchairs and other physically impaired individuals. I’m grateful for the support and look forward to welcoming more users.”

This recent boost contributes to the other investments that Callum has received including a £25,000 from First Port to go towards staff costs, a £2,000 grant from GCU’s business incubator hub, UHatch, and Santander Universities for business development costs.

Callum is delighted at the recognition his service has received in the short time since it launched. He said: “Since January 2017, I have received overall grant funding up to £46,000 and we have generated a small income from clients paying for the service.

“We also have a successful working partnership with two local authorities – Stirling Council and Clackmannanshire Council – which refer patients for treatment.

“The service has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months and the support I have received from UHatch and other funding partner has allowed us to work with children and adults from the age of 2-55 years old with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities.” 

Director of UHatch John Lennon added: “Callum and Forth Valley Rebound Therapy Service have had a terrific year. These latest funding grants are emblematic of the service’s growth and terrific acknowledgement of the work he does.”