A state-of-the-art buggy which fixes to wheelchairs, designed by Sheffield Hallam University student Tom Baker, has won a major design competition
Bolt Burdon Kemp’s Design the Change Competition raises awareness of the day-to-day challenges facing people with spinal cord injuries.
Tom , a third year Product Design student, designed the universal wheelchair buggy with a lightweight collapsible frame, offering wheelchair users independent and secure travel with young children.
When researching the idea, Tom realised that many wheelchair users rig up their own DIY contraptions to push conventional pushchairs. His research revealed there are around 4,000 UK parents living with a spinal cord injury, and many more parents who are wheelchair users that could benefit from his design.
Tom said: “I’m delighted that my project to enable individuals with a spinal cord injury to travel with an infant safely and independently, has been recognised with this award and thank all those involved in supporting me and this inspiring initiative.
“During my research for this project, I learnt that the work which Cerebra and The Spinal Injuries Association do is crucial in making the world a more accessible place for those who have a spinal cord injury. I’d like to thank Bolt Burdon Kemp for setting the design challenge and endorsing.
Tom wins £3,000, with an additional £2,000 being awarded to Sheffield Hallam University and he will have a week’s placement at the Cerebra centre in Wales next year.
Victoria Oliver, head of the spinal injury team at Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: “A spinal cord injury is a life changing event that makes even the most mundane of tasks time-consuming and a challenge. Yet despite the increasing number of people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK, not enough is being done to make the world in which we all live accessible.”
Tom’s design was judged by a panel of experts: Dr Ross Head, Product Design Manager for the Cerebra Innovation Centre, Ian Hosking, club chairman, vice coach and player for Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair rugby club, Davey Jose, Ambassador to the charity Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research, Lady-Marie Dawson-Malcolm, Support Network Officer for the Spinal Injuries Association and Claire Martin, Trustee for the Spinal Injuries Association.
