Young wheelchair users still missing out on key school experiences

Credit: whizz-kidz.org.uk

The UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users is warning that young wheelchair users are still being shut out of key parts of school life, as its latest frontline data shows satisfaction with school-related activities at just 2.5 out of 10 before they receive the right wheelchair.

With an estimated 75,000 young wheelchair users across the UK, the charity says children continue to face barriers to experiences including getting around school independently, PE, school trips, clubs and opportunities to prepare for the world of work.

Whizz Kidz’s latest data, launched for its new Just Watch Me campaign, shows young people who have received specialist wheelchairs from the charity are having a much more positive school experience, with satisfaction for those same activities rising to an average 9.3 out of 10.

Across all activities young people said mattered to them, satisfaction before receiving the right wheelchair averaged 4.3 out of 10 in 2024/25, falling to 3.5 in 2025/26.

School has remained one of the most frequently identified priorities for young people in both years.

Whizz Kidz says the figures underline the growing pressure facing families trying to secure appropriate equipment.

After having to close their wait list for the first time ever in 2025, the charity has experienced an increase in applications by an average of 12.5% each year, alongside rising costs for providing specialist equipment.

The charity currently spends an average of around £4,800 per child to deliver its specialist wheelchair service, a cost Whizz Kidz expects to continue rising due to inflation and material shortages.

The leading charity is calling for greater support to ensure young wheelchair users can have better outcomes and greater independence at school, whether that means moving between classrooms without being pushed, keeping up with friends or taking part in activities outside the classroom.

It is calling for greater funding for specialist wheelchairs alongside better government support and practical training for schools and educators to help include young wheelchair users fully in school life.

While NHS wheelchair services provide vital equipment for thousands of children, Whizz Kidz says the wheelchair available through statutory provision may not always provide the functionality an individual young person needs to live as independently as possible.

For some children, chairs can be too heavy to self-propel, unsuitable for outdoor activities or unable to provide the specialist functionality they need to participate independently at school and in their community.

One year on from publishing its Making the Grade report which highlighted barriers across PE, sports days, school trips, clubs and work experience, Whizz Kidz says providing the right wheelchair is only one part of closing the gap.

Amber Martin, 8, a young wheelchair user supported by Whizz Kidz, said: “My school tries really hard to include me, but sometimes it isn’t easy.

“In PE, I can’t always do the same things as everyone else. I’d love to kick a ball, do gymnastics and join in more with my friends.

“I’d also really like to go on school trips without my mum or dad having to come with me. If the coach and the places we visit were easier for me to use, I could do more things with my friends.

“I just want to join in, have fun and do the same things they do.”

Sarah Pugh, Chief Executive of Whizz Kidz, said: “September should be an exciting time, but too many young wheelchair users are still missing out on the trips, clubs and activities that help shape childhood and their future.

“Our latest data should be a wake-up call. Without the right equipment and support, young wheelchair users are having their horizons limited before they’ve even had the chance to decide where they want to go.

“A wheelchair is only part of the answer. Schools also need the funding, training and confidence to make inclusion part of everyday school life, not something families have to negotiate each time.

“With demand for our services continuing to rise and specialist equipment becoming more expensive, back to school should be the moment we start talking about how we’re going to close the gap and give young wheelchair users the same opportunities as their peers.”

Whizz Kidz’s Making the Grade research, conducted in 2024 and presented to Parliament in 2025, showed how those barriers extend beyond participation at school and into preparation for adult life.

Among schools offering work experience placements, only 35% said they had an established process for supporting young wheelchair users to access them, including liaising with employers beforehand.

The charity says these opportunities are vital for building independence, skills and aspirations, particularly given the employment gap disabled young people face

To find out more about Whizz Kidz, support the Just Watch Me campaign or donate towards specialist wheelchairs for young people, visit their website.