Motiva Group has donated a specially-adapted nine-seater minibus to the Family Services team at Caudwell Children – a national charity providing practical and emotional support to disabled youngsters.

The vehicle will be used to transport children and families who would normally struggle to access the charity’s inclusive activities.

Unique adaptations to the Vauxhall Vivaro minibus were carried out by Crewe-based Voyager MPV Ltd to ensure even children using the largest-powered wheelchairs can be transported safely and comfortably.

Trudi Beswick, chief executive of Staffordshire-based Caudwell Children, described it as a "great day for the charity".

“I’m so proud to see our own minibus out on the road providing disabled children with the same opportunities as everyone else,” she said.

“Transport shouldn’t be a barrier to accessing activities but for families with disabled children and low incomes unfortunately it is. We can now remove that barrier for a few children.

“I can’t thank everyone at Motiva and the engineers at Voyager enough.”

It’s the first time the charity has had suitable transport to help families who find it difficult to get out of their home.

Peter Davenport (pictured), managing director of Motiva Group, whose headquarters are also in Staffordshire, said: “Caudwell Children is a fantastic charity that does phenomenal work and makes a massive difference to the lives of disabled youngsters in this area.

“We are happy to provide our support and we hope the minibus can play an important role for them in future.

“We are a business that is committed to this area and we try to help as many local charities as we can as part of our programme to support the community.

“We saw Caudwell Children as a particularly good cause to get involved with and we hope to see the vehicle out and about for years to come.”

Livery for the minibus was provided by signage experts Motifs so everyone who sees it knows it’s on its way to, or from, doing amazing work in the community. 

The Caudwell Children Family Services team provides individual help and information for families with a disabled child as well as a wide range of short break activities to encourage increased social mobility and teach disabled children important life skills.

Julia Hayne, head of Community Programmes at the charity, said: “Our short-break activities are important in enhancing the physical and emotional well-being of disabled children and their families, so providing unrestricted access to these activities for families is of the upmost importance.

“The delivery of the minibus is truly a landmark in the local service as it broadens our ability to reach some of the most isolated families - the ones who probably need our help the most.”

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