Institution news
Remap is a UK charity which matches skilled volunteers, including engineers and technicians, with disabled people who need a bespoke piece of equipment to overcome specific issues.
Remap has some 850 volunteers and for this project joined forces with a team of apprentices at Jaguar Land Rover. The company has a new scheme that matches skilled employees to specific community challenges as part of its successful employee volunteering programme.
At the start of the project, Jaguar Land Rover second-year advanced apprentices Lauren Tolliday, Robert Wardle, Jason Brown and Alex Milner met young rider Keeley Cullen and observed her at a riding therapy session.
Keeley, has been riding since she was three and riding was part of her physiotherapy. Keeley had always been lifted onto a horse but, during a recent inspection, the Ford Farm stables were told this could no longer happen and she would have to stop riding. Riding for the Disabled Association then approached Remap to see if they could help find a solution.
The apprentice team spent 136 hours working on the project with Remap to design the steps, which needed to be moveable, lightweight and wide enough for carer and child. They developed a solution, which met the needs of Keeley and other children at the riding club.
Institution President, and Chairman of the Essex West panel of Remap, Richard Folkson, said: “It was wonderful to see how the Jaguar Land Rover apprentices had volunteered their time to create a solution to enable Keeley and other children at the riding club to continue their riding sessions. If IMechE Members feel they can help on similar projects, by volunteering their time and skills, please do get in touch with Remap."
Apprentice Lauren said: “The project was a good opportunity for us to learn new skills such as project planning management, teamwork and communication, and also make a positive impact on the lives of others. We selected materials to ensure strength and practicability and developed the idea through fabricating and testing numerous structures that met the specification.
“Through feedback from our managers and skilled workers, we were able to select the most suitable design. Along the journey, we faced many problems such as how to make the steps mobile, welding aluminium and sourcing a non-slip surface for the steps which we overcame as a team by sharing our problem solving ideas, and trial and error.”
Horse rider Keeley said: “I’m so happy that the apprentices have made steps so my friends and I can continue to take part in riding lessons. I really love riding and was sad when I was told I’d have to stop doing it. Thank you to Lauren, Robert, Jason and Alex for designing and building these amazing steps. They’re so easy to use and mean my Mum won’t have to lift me anymore which has been getting really hard for her as I get older.”
Land Rover Ambassador and equestrian event rider Harry Meade joined the apprentices at the celebration event to find out more about the project.
Harry commented: “The apprentices have done an amazing job in creating the hi-tech steps specifically for Keeley. She has to live with her disability, but the steps will enable her to do what she loves most. Horses can have an incredible effect on people's lives, helping them overcome disability or anxiety. Seeing the thought that has gone into the project and difference it will make to Keeley's life is wonderful."
Adam Rowe, CEO of Remap, said: “This project demonstrates brilliantly how charity and business can forge a really effective partnership to support disabled people to become more independent. Remap has been thrilled by the work of the apprentices and we look forward to getting the next project underway.”
Jonathan Garrett, CSR Director at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The Remap project is a great example of how community projects can capitalise on the skills and expertise of our workforce and encourage them to develop innovative design and technology solutions, which are core to our long-term business success, to solve social challenges whilst also developing their skills. The project has been a great success and we look forward to working with Remap on more projects in the future.”
New projects and volunteers are welcomed by Remap, which is expanding its service. Find out how to volunteer for Remap.
The Institution also works with engineers at Jaguar Land Rover. This includes providing advice and support for engineering working towards professional registration. For more information on how the Institution supports organisations, contact Farah Baksh at f_baksh@imeche.org or on Tel: +44 (0)78 8785 6520.