Full Transcript for Making a difference - Conversations with a successful BBK Charity applicant

let's just apply and and take it from there, really. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:29.439 That's fantastic. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.560 That's exactly exactly what we wanted to achieve, so that's really great. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.680 A nd tell us a bit what about what what did you use the grant for? 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.800 I bought a unit called a smart drive. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:52.560 The smart drive is an independent power unit that goes on the back of an existing daychair to then help propel you along, and and I wanted it more so for going up sort of hills. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:59.120 I mean, some hills, uh depending on where in the country you are, can be monstrously hill, too, just too steep. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:09.280 And I know that I couldn't cope with that one up or down, but it's the ones that are just that fraction too hard to push, but you still need to be able to get up there. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:16.639 And and the reason I actually applied was because at the time I applied, I was spending a lot of time in St. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.000 Ives in Cornwall. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:24.000 Beautiful place, grew up there, was much easier being there before injury. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.400 Going there now, visiting as a wheelchair user, it's damn hard work. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:42.960 It's hilly, it's cobbly, it's it's a challenge, and as and as fit as I am from the wheelchair rugby, it was becoming more of a challenge because let's be fair, you know, I'm I'm also aging, I'm an aging tetra. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:48.879 I don't have the same umph I did have 15 years ago, um, but I'm still pretty fit and active. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.680 However, this extra little help was something I needed. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:58.800 At the time, I was spending an awful lot of time in Cornwall because sadly, I I recently lost my dad. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:05.759 Um, I was visiting dad an awful lot, so I was probably down in Cornwall every two or three weeks. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:11.120 Um that may have even got more frequent as his health declined. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:17.040 Um, and it was just something I just felt I need I needed something to help me get there and get around. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:25.360 We now I've got I'm one of three brothers, and it was kind of like we now want to spend as much time as we can with our dad as possible while he's still here. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:30.639 And for the first sort of two and a half years, you'd barely know there was anything wrong with him. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:34.000 But but we did, so we all spent a lot more time with him. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:36.800 So it sounds like it's made quite quite a difference to you. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:38.160 Is it is it quite easy to use? 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.240 Yeah, it is easy to use, yeah. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:50.560 It's um it it's you can actually pair it to a smartwatch so that you can power it by banging your arm

against your lap or the wheel to turn it on and off. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:53.360 So it's kind of it's it's so easy to use. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:05:00.879 Um when you put it on the chair, you you've got a bracket that goes on the rear axle of your chair, and and then you hook it on. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:09.040 Uh, and you once you've paired your smartwatch to it, you can go two taps to start it, and the speed will slowly ramp up. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:17.839 And when you get to the speed that you want to get to, one tap will keep it at that pace, and then when you want to stop, it's two taps and it will stop. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.000 So it was it was very easy to use. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:28.000 The only the most tricky thing about it is actually fitting it to your chair when you are in it, because you're trying to do it from behind. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.480 Uh, that that is the most tricky thing about it. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:31.920 That sounds fantastic. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:37.199 And is that something that any wheelchair user could use, or is it specific to the the type of wheelchair or is it to do it? 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:44.079 No, no, any wheelchair, because even uh a folding I mean, there are different types of wheelchair, as I'm sure you appreciate. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:47.920 My chair is a rigid frame chair, so it's very easy to fit to mine. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:53.439 Even the the chairs that sort of collapse sideways, um, you can fit that same adaption on that. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:57.279 You've just got to fit a bar onto the chair before you put the smart drive onto it. 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:00.399 So the smart drive won't let you go on the bar that you fitted on the wheelchair. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.000 Oh, that sounds fantastic. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:06.000 U I mean, how how did you find the whole process of applying to the charity? 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.199 What was the process for you? 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.959 It was really easy, actually. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:15.279 I just followed the link, filled in the questions that were being asked. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:37.279 I think probably sometimes if you can give it a little bit more detail than just saying, I would like X, okay, maybe you would like X item, but you need to give a little bit more background as to why you need it, how is it going to benefit you, that kind of thing, just so that the panel then that are reading the grants kind of just got more idea of what it is they're dealing with. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.399 But but actually, uh the application process really quite easy. 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.600 Yeah, that's exactly right. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:50.000 It's a simple application form, and we really just want to hear from you, like you said, not just what what the grant would be for, but how it will impact you and how it will change your life. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:56.399 And actually, we've already heard from you today that it sounds like it's it's it's really made a difference for you, particularly when you're down in Cornwall. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:03.360 It it was one of those things, it made a big difference, and we'll continue to do so, because actually I'm going to Cornwall this very weekend coming up. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:07.360 Okay, not to see my dad anymore, because like I said, sadly, dad's gone. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:20.240 Um, but it was certainly something it was hugely beneficial when obviously when you're your parents, you when you're on the cusp of losing one that you're very close to, it's a hard time emotionally. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:27.360 And then to have this unit to make it physically easier for me, it it made a big difference right when I needed it. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:32.399 Oh, I'm I'm really, really pleased, and thank you so much for coming here to to share that with us. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:35.600 So, is it safe to assume that you would encourage other people to apply? 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:37.040 Certainly apply, yeah. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:42.879 And as I say, just give the information, explain why you need a particular item and how it's going to help you. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:48.639 Um you know, the the the the help is there if if you sort of put put the effort in yourself. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:51.600 Absolutely, and that's you know, that's the whole purpose, that's why we're here. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:55.839 We want to give back and help as many people as we can at the BBK charity. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:59.519 Um, thank you so much, Ian, um, for coming and speaking to us today. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:00.319 It's been great to see you. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.759 Not at all, you're most welcome. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:02.399 Thank you. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:06.160 Join us again on the next episode of the BBK Free Speech Podcast. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:11.199 Please click and follow wherever you're listening to this podcast from to be notified of all future episodes. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.319 Thank you for listening. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:13.519 Goodbye.