Debenhams staff on Digger Tiggers

30th June 2007

William O'Brien and Antonia Kimber ride, walk and swim to help Tiggers.

31st March 2007

New Tiggers Office

20 March 2007

Gazette - Helens Double Role - Click here to read a larger version

22 February 2007

Evening Gazette

10 February 2007

Evening Gazette

December 2006

Evening Gazette

Emma Harris talks to award winners Matty Drake and Carly Fox and finds out why

Blackpool Tiggers has made a difference to both their lives

CARLY Fox has Asperger's Syndrome. The 16-year-old finds social situations extremely difficult, but despite this the former

Collegiate High School pupil is planning to take part in a trampolining coaching course to help other youngsters just like herself.

Carly has been a member of Blackpool Tiggers - a trampoline club which meets weekly for children on the autistic spectrum

and their siblings - since last year.

Tiggers hopes to encourage and promote sport, recreation, leisure and social integration opportunities for disabled children,

young adults and their carers.

Tiggers also tries to improve and develop disability awareness in the community and to provide parents of autistic children

with mutual support. Carly, from Bispham, has just been presented with an award for bravery at the organisation's annual meeting.

Debra Bookbinder, chairman of Tiggers, said: "Carly has done so well. Social interaction is something that is very hard for'

her because of her Asperger's.

"Being in a group setting is difficult for Carly but she has dealt with this really wetl since she joined Tiggers, Getting up on a trampoline

in (front of everyone is quite a big thing, but Carly has managed that.

"For her to overcome they issues is brilliant, especially as she is now going to do a course to become a British trampolining

coach for under 14's.

"She can communicate with the other children on their level, in a special way, as She understands them. She will be putting

herself in an uncomfortable area for her in order to help other people with the same condition - so we think she is brave.

"To see her like this is fantastic and we are really proud of her."

Carly said: "I like getting to know the children and everything, they are really nice. Some of them find it difficult some weeks

when they come to the club, so I help them. I'm looking forward to doing the course and then I'll be able to help all the children, I was really

pleased when I found out I was getting this award."

Fellow-award recipient was Matty Drake, who is 20, He received a special recognition award for his volunteering with Tiggers,

which he says has changed his life.

Matty, from Layton, said: "I got involved With Tiggers through Beneast Training and I haven't looked back since. I like working with

the children and I love trampolining. I like the people I work with as well."

Matty who has dyslexia, is involved in coaching the children, as well as administrative work in the office. He has clocked

up nearly 500 hours with Tiggers since he joined them in the Spring last year.

He was heavily involved in a summer programme run by Tiggers featuring a range of activities, from sport and bowling to cinema

trips. He looks after volunteers. He hopes his experience with Tiggers will help him find a job working with young people, especially

those with autism.

The former Coilegiate pupil said- "I have gained loads of great experience through helping the children. I have

gained qualifications, including that of British trampolining coach.

"Sometimes volunteering at Tiggers can be challenging, but most of the time the kids are fine. I'd love to be involved

in the future in support work and definitely working with kids, "I feel the experience I've had and work with children with autism

through Tiggers would really help prepare me ' a job I'ke that, I would still like to carry helping out with Tiggers when I do

get a job, because I enjoy it.

"You can see the children all really enjoy it. It's important for them to learn to socialise and be in groups like this. If not they could find

future life extremely hard and this helps break the mould.

"These children often have a hard time at school and the club gives them a bit of a release, somewhere to have fun."

Debra said Matty was a real "star". She said: "He is wonderful. He has dyslexia and was written off when he younger as just special needs. But he got

a BTEC in computing, is extremely intelligent and is now a British trampolining coach.

"We couldn't have run our summer programme without him. He was at the centre of it all and worked hard. The children

love him and he is fantastic with them'

She added: "The awards reflect the particular deficits that come with Aspergers and achievement in overcoming them.

For many of the youngsters, Tiggers is he only activity they can come to and feel welcome. We have in the region of

68 volunteers involved and Tiggers would not be possible without them."

August 2006