News

A Cheshire children's charity has helped get our students on their bikes for Christmas.

The Brian Kennedy Trust donated £6,000 to purchase two trikes and two go-karts to School and College.

Khalifa Souayed, 16, is a student at our School. He has severe learning difficulties and a degenerative condition in his ankles making walking painful.

His teacher Rachel Dwyer, said: “Khalifa loves to interact with others but gets incredibly anxious. Although he shares a classroom with another student twice a week, he still spends a lot of time learning by himself.

“He requires regular sensory breaks and chooses what he’d like after each lesson. He rides around site at leat three times a day and interacts with whomever he meets. Khalifa feels more secure on his trike and can regulate himself much better. Using his trike means he can travel longer distances than if he walked.”

Apart from the fun element of pedal power, specialist go-karts and trikes promote learning and independence

Lydia Waker, Royal College Manchester tutor, said: “They improve the students' physical, emotional and social wellbeing. It enables those that cannot use other bikes to ride independently and increase their muscle strength, coordination and cardiovascular fitness. The students are eager to get on the new bikes and go-karts and it is a great skill to take into their future.”

Balance and body movement is detected by the vestibular system in the inner ear. The sense of motion in a child with sensory issues can awaken their other senses, make them feel secure and improve concentration.

Lydia added: “They offer a great sense of freedom, and are a healthy way to integrate mobility and excitement. Riding a bike or go-kart provides vestibular stimulation which increases student’s ability to participate in learning.”

Linda Miles, from The Brian Kennedy Trust, said: “We feel really passionately about supporting children with disabilities and giving them every opportunity to enable them to live life to the full. We are more than happy to endorse the incredible support Seashell Trust provides its pupils and trust the go-karts and trikes will enable the children to have some fun.”