Rugby hero opens new outdoor play facilities
Leading play equipment manufacturer – Wicksteed Playscapes helped make the dreams of one London mum a reality, by designing a cutting edge inclusive playground which has become The Wooden Spoon Mobility Training & Recreation Centre
Wicksteed Playscapes worked together with mum Katrina Bijowski, who runs Karers 4 
Kidz – a charity set up to build inclusive educational and recreational facilities for both disabled and able-bodied children, and The Wooden Spoon Society – the Official Rugby Charity which supports mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children and young people. Rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio MBE, representing The Wooden Spoon Society, officially opened the inclusive play area, much to the delight of the children.
With no place for wheelchair users to play – and motivated by the experiences of her own daughter, Emma, who has cerebral palsy; Katrina, her husband Chris, and Chris Nixon, another trustee of Karers 4 Kidz, spent six years planning the playground and raised an impressive £155,000 in order to build it. Wooden Spoon very generously funded a massive £80,000 of the costs
Wicksteed Playscapes worked with pupils from Hillingdon schools and families of disabled children to find out the sort of equipment they would ideally like included on the site and produced ‘virtual reality’ type graphics to help people visualise the area and help the fund-raising efforts.
Wicksteed’s innovative designs included equipment for both able-bodied and less able kids to enjoy and products which also allowed carers to join in the fun. As Katrina was keen to point out: “Sometimes disabled kids are afraid to try out a slide, for instance, but this wide slide is perfect because it allows carers or friends to slide down with them, holding their hand.”
To summarise, Katrina says, “It will be an invaluable resource for the area and we hope it will be the first of many that could possibly be replicated across the country. Emma cannot wait to go whizzing about in it!”
Learn more about Wicksteed visit: www.wicksteed.co.uk