Forterra Donates Funds To Help Disabled Children In Need

As part of its Community Fund, leading building products manufacturer Forterra has donated £1,000 to KatNat Disabled Equipment Ltd, located in Wolverhampton, close to Forterra’s Cradley Special Brick factory.

KatNat is a one-man not-for-profit company led by 60-year-old army veteran Mark Dickinson. The company produces therapy equipment for disabled children to help them build strength and mobility.

The Community Fund donation will go towards materials used to produce the equipment, while also helping to facilitate the delivery of equipment to the disabled children.

The company is run on Mark’s own funds: “There are no wages or overheads; I donate my own time and utilities to make the much-needed products, and I provide and distribute the equipment I make free of charge, so all donations are really helpful.”

Mark started making the equipment in September of 2020 to help his four-year-old granddaughter Nathalene, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, continue a rehabilitation and strengthening program at home, in between her sessions at a treatment centre.

“Treatment with the necessary equipment often has long waiting lists and there tends to be extended intervals of time between each session, sometimes exceeding three months’ wait. Early intervention is vital in conditions such as cerebral palsy, so being able to use such equipment daily is a necessity,” says Mark.

Mark began without any prior experience in craftsmanship or carpentry. He set about making his own version of a piece of equipment called a Pikler Triangle, which was essential to Nathalie’s treatment. After only a few months spent in the workshop, Mark developed the skills necessary to work to a consistently high standard.

“By providing as much equipment as possible, it will allow disabled children to improve their motor skills, body strength and the chance of being mobile without the need of walkers and wheelchairs.

A sufferer of PTSD following his military service during the Balklans crisis, Mark tells how KatNat gives his life a sense of focus and deep and fulfilling purpose: “Seeing the children smiling is a huge inspiration. It is incredible to consider how much these children go through, how much they struggle with and yet how positive and optimistic they remain.

“A lot of these children have been told by doctors they would never walk again. Back in August, I received back my first set of parallel bars; the child who had received it a year ago had developed the mobility and strength to walk without it. It shows that there’s always hope so long as we help each other out.”

Caroline Wildman, Marketing Director at Forterra said: “The Forterra Community Fund is designed to support local communities and it’s fantastic that we’re able to support a company as important as KatNat.

“The work Mark’s doing is truly impressive and we look forward to seeing this donation help him reach a wider base of people in need.”

The Forterra Community Fund gives charities, clubs, groups and societies the opportunity to apply for funding or building products to be used in projects that make a positive contribution to their local community.

To apply to the fund, please visit https://www.forterra.co.uk/about-us/community/community-fund/.

For more information on KatNat Disabled Equipment Ltd, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/134809965062572