Chips Charity

Chips Charity, founded in the late 1990s by senior figures in the UK gaming and casino industry, exists to relieve disability in children by providing bespoke powered wheelchairs unavailable through NHS or local authority services. Rooted in a fundraising golf tournament initiated by Linda Lindsay, its mission emphasises enabling mobility, independence, and dignity for children with severe impairments. With zero overheads, pro bono trustees, and every penny from gaming sector donations directed straight to equipment, the charity embodies direct action, personal involvement—trustees meet every recipient family for presentations—and prudent stewardship, committing only when funds are fully secured after rigorous needs assessment. Over 500 chairs have transformed lives UK-wide, supporting conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal injuries, and rare syndromes to boost school attendance, social participation, and family inclusion.

It exclusively funds custom-powered wheelchairs for named individual children and young people overlooked by statutory provision, prioritising practical independence over broad projects.

Eligible applicants are families of UK children requiring specialist mobility aids not covered publicly; organisations, generic projects, or charities are ineligible, with no income, size, or religious restrictions. Applications are UK-wide, accepted anytime via online form or email with evidence of statutory ineligibility.

Grants cover full wheelchair costs (£6,000–£25,000), purchased directly by the charity on a rolling basis with trustee verification and family visits; no fixed deadlines, awards when funding aligns. Exclusions include sporting chairs (e.g., football/powerball), running costs, or core funding. Distinctives: niche gaming-backed model, transparent zero-admin efficiency, and outcomes-driven focus on high-need cases set it apart as an agile, reliable intervener in childhood disability mobility.