Photo shoot fundraiser for KIDS charity in Wakefield

We are pleased to have been able to help national disabled children’s charity, KIDS by donating a ‘photo studio’ for a day at our Wakefield Business Park.

The studio space allowed a fantastic photo shoot to take place for disabled children and their families, while raising much-needed funds for the charity.

KIDS supports 1,000 disabled children, young people and their families in Wakefield with everything and anything, from advice on how to travel to a particular place with a child in a wheelchair, to helping complete lengthy application forms for benefits such as Disability Living Allowance.

‘Family friendly’ photography

Regional Fundraiser for KIDS Wakefield, Samantha Grundy, 47, organised the fundraising professional photography day after being inspired by a previous bad experience.

Samantha explains: “A few years ago one family I knew with a disabled child went to have professional photographs taken and the photographer refused to allow the child who was in a wheelchair to be wheeled onto the white backdrop he created and said the child must be taken out of his wheelchair.

“Understandably, this caused a great deal of upset to the family and we at KIDS wanted to do something to ensure that families of disabled children had the same opportunities as everyone else. So we arranged for local photographer and father of a disabled child, Dean Sanderson, to take the pictures and offered Wakefield families of children with additional needs the chance to have a professional photo shoot with their loved ones, with 50% of the profits going to KIDS.”

Many of the staff at KIDS, including Samantha, have disabled children themselves, which means they have experience and empathy which is so valuable in supporting families in a similar situation.

Every penny counts

It costs KIDS £40,000 per year to run the charity and fundraising initiatives such as the photography day help a great deal.

Samantha adds: “Families with disabled children and young people are often so busy caring that they forget to take the time out to have fun and capture memories which is such a precious thing to do.

The event was a huge success and we raised £200, which may not sound like a lot of money, but every single penny helps enormously towards running the charity on a daily basis.

“We were so grateful to Bizspace for providing the ‘photo studio’ free of charge. Paying to rent the room would have eaten into the money raised. Plus, free car parking facilities come with our unit, which is a great bonus.”

KIDS charity moved into our Wakefield Business Park back in 2011 and Business Centre Manager, Alice Blackband has been keen to support them in whatever way she can.

Alice says: “KIDS charity does so much good work for families of disabled children in Wakefield and it is great for us to be able to help support such a fantastic organisation in our local community.”

Free event in February

Continuing its work in Wakefield, KIDS is hosting a free Marketplace event on Monday 9 February at Cedar Court Hotel where more than 50 companies that provide support for disabled children’s families will be under one roof and available to offer advice and information.

Samantha says: “It’s reassuring to meet other families in the same situation and create a good support network for yourself and discover a wealth of products and services that could literally be life-changing.”

Wakefield Business Park

Converted from an old mill into fantastic and affordable business space, Wakefield Business Park in West Yorkshire offers a range of offices, workshops, studios, storage space, plus a spacious meeting room. Perfectly located near the town centre, the site offers excellent business facilities including an on-site crèche, café, free car parking facilities and 24-hour access.

To find out more please get in touch with Business Centre Manager, Alice Blackband on 01226 241 427.