UHatch spin-out company bounces to the top with £140,000 funding grant

bOunceT®'s Callum McKinnon

A revolutionary trampoline-therapy company, which was spun out of GCU’s UHatch social enterprise hub, has been awarded almost £140,000 in funding to increase its support for children and adults with disabilities and additional support needs.

bOunceT Innovative Occupational Therapy®, Scotland’s first open referral service for rebound therapy, received £130,231 from the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and £8,500 from the Robertson Trust for its new “Inclusive and Meaningful Play” project. The company will use the grants to employ more staff and provide fully funded one-to-one sessions to help increase the number of people receiving the physical, social and sensory benefits of using a trampoline.

The funding, which is spread over three years, will also provide support and coaching to parents and carers and promote participation in therapeutic play and movement, which could be rolled out across Scotland.

bOunceT® was founded by Callum McKinnon, a GCU Occupational Therapy student, in 2017. It has worked with more than 150 children and adults with disabilities across Central Scotland, as well working partnerships with Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils. The project also offers work placements to GCU Occupational Therapy students.

“I am delighted to have won funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and the Robertson Trust,” said Callum. “bOunceT® can now offer a fully funded block of therapeutic play and meaningful movement sessions for 300 families in Forth Valley who would need to pay for the service otherwise.

“This is a stamp of approval and shows that the important work we do is recognised within our local community.”

Professor Bruce Wood, Head of the Department of Applied Computer Games, said: “Callum has worked hard to establish and develop bOunceT®. He has modified and adapted it to meet the needs of his clients and the marketplace, but has always remembered his core business.

“This financial success is truly deserved. We at UHatch and GCU are delighted for him and we look forward to working with him as he progresses his ideas and vision.”