In 2022, AKW proudly partnered with Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP), who are a value-based, user-led charity which aims to relieve the needs of disabled people, their families and carers in England and Wales through actively promoting independent living and providing information on peer counselling , equipment, personal assistance, transport, access, employment, education, training and a range of other services.
Since partnering with founder Dave Thompson, MBE and the rest of the WDP team nearly three years ago, we’ve supported them with numerous charity fundraisers, donated product, volunteering opportunities, and sponsored their annual awareness event – Disability Awareness Day.
Since 2022, AKW has proudly attended Warrington Disability Partnership’s annual charity dinner which is a key fundraising opportunity for the team, with profits from ticket sales helping the charity continue to make a difference to so many people.
For three years in a row we’ve spent an evening dining and dancing all in the name of charity, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and celebrate everything the team at WDP do; we look forward to it every year!
In 2022, AKW Surveying Supervisor Mark and Business Development Managers Laura, Emma and Craig volunteered to support Warrington Disability Partnership at their annual Santa’s Grotto event.
Held at Walton Hall and Gardens in Cheshire, the event is a completely accessible Santa experience for children and annual fundraiser which helps to support the charity in all their endeavors. Hundreds of children attended, with entry including a gift and trip around a reindeer puzzle trail, with many more activities on offer, including a Winter Wonderland walk, a meet and greet with the main man himself – Santa Claus.
AKW colleagues will volunteer again at Santa’s Grotto and take part in Santa’s Dash in 2024!
AKW proudly sponsor Disability Awareness Day (DAD), which has been organised by WDP founder Dave Thomspon, MBE since 1992. What started out as a one-day celebration now spans a full week, concluding with Sunday’s main event that attracts over 20,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors annually.
DAD promotes a ‘can do’ culture and has three main goals:
• Highlight statutory, private or voluntary services available to enable disabled people to stay independent
• Promote the best/most recently launched equipment that could maintain/improve independence, not just those offered by statutory service providers
• Showcase what disabled people can do in the field of Sport, Arts and Entertainment
AKW has visited Warrington in July to be part of the DAD celebrations since 2023, where we’ve given kids the chance to win rubber ducks by playing AKW Hook-a-Duck, an activity which has proved extremely popular year after year!