Healthcare recruitment agency gives young people with disabilities a thrilling car experience

SPECIAL EVENT: Students and staff from Families for individual Need and Dignity (FiND) with some of the team from Care Connection partners at the car experience day. Pictures by Tom Arran

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

The team behind an award-winning healthcare recruitment agency organised a unique car experience to remember for a group of young adults with severe learning disabilities and or autism.

Care Connection Partners provides support staff to the Families for individual Need and Dignity (FiND) charity, which has bases in Cottingham and Hessle.

The company invited students from the charity and their support workers to view and sit in three cars – a Ferrari California, and a Renault Clio and a Volkswagen GTI which have been adapted for use at track and drag racing events.

Maxwell Stock, 18, son of founder and managing director Deborah Stock, and James MacLeod-Birch, business development manager at Care Connection Partners, regularly take part in these events with Kevin the Clio and Gazza the GTI.

Maxwell has suffered two catastrophic brain injuries during his life which means he is unable to hold a full UK driving licence due to visual impairment. James regularly drives Maxwell to private, off-road events across the region, giving him the supervised opportunity to get behind the wheel and drive automatic cars.

EXPERIENCE: One of the students sitting in the Ferrari California

Alongside other members of the Care Connection Partners team, Maxwell and James welcomed 12 students from FiND, telling them more about the cars and enabling those who were able to sit in the cars, rev the engines, beep the horns and wear the helmets.

The Ferrari was kindly offered by Jon Seth, a volunteer with the Sporting Bears Motor Club, which sees its car enthusiast members offer “dream rides” in their classic and sports cars in return for donations to children’s charities across the country.

FiND student Harry Jewitt said: “It was really good and the Ferrari was my favourite. I love cars because my dad has a Porsche. It was an exciting day.”

FiND was set up by parents who could not locate the services they and their children needed to meet their needs.

Emily McMullen, a Key Worker based at the charity’s Cottingham branch, said: “The car event was something completely different for our students, who have never experienced anything like this before. Lots of them love doing something interactive and this is one of the best experiences they’ve had.

‘WONDERFUL TO SEE’: Young adults with severe learning disabilities and or autism were given a day to remember

“We’d like to thank Care Connection Partners for inviting us to something which was completely tailored to our community. It’s rare that this happens and I know the students will be talking about this for a long time to come.

“They smiled all morning, which was wonderful to see, and we can’t wait to tell their parents and carers about the experience they had.”

Care Connection Partners, which has its head office on Hessle Road in west Hull, prides itself on its #feelthelove ethos and aims to give back to those it works with, as well as the communities it serves, and support worthy causes.

The business, which won the Growth Award at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards last year, operates across the country, including Hull and the East Riding, and has three satellite offices in London, Leeds and County Durham.

Maxwell said: “I’m really proud to have been involved in the event and helping other people with disabilities. I know what it’s like to have limitations and it was great to be able to show the students they can still take part.”

ALL SMILES: The car event was something “completely different” for the students

Teressa Llewellyn, group relationship manager at Care Connection Partners, said: “It costs nothing to take time out of our day to make their day. We’re delighted to make them happy and see them smile.”

Nathan Glanville-Houghton, also business development manager at the company, added: “When it comes to healthcare recruitment agencies, it’s things like this which sets Care Connection Partners apart. This is one of the reasons I’m so proud to work for the business.

“It was an absolutely amazing day and one we’ll never forget.”