Cool2Care is a U.K.-based social enterprise that supports parents with disabled children. Founded by Phil Conway in 2007, Cool2Care's story began through Conway's own need to find available childcare workers, for his son Shaun, who are trained in working with disabled children. Cool2Care is truly an organization that is brought to life by its story. Conway's son, born in 1998, had physical and learning disabilities, which in turn, affected his balance, muscle strength, learning, coordination and sight -- and went undiagnosed for years.
By responding to a lack of supply in the market of care-workers for disabled children, Cool2Care now has over 60 experienced staff throughout the United Kingdom. Each possible personal assistant (PA) or care-worker is trained, screened and given Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks by Cool2Care to ensure that the care-workers are the best of the best -- and best suited for the family in need. Cool2Care is exceptionally invested in making certain that the PA or care-worker chosen is specific to what the family (as a whole). Cool2Care is able to find families care-workers for part-time, full-time, holidays or even just a night a week.
Other services and programs are offered at some Cool2Care locations, including Workforce Development Training and Volunteer Befriending. For all its work, Cool2Care has been recognized in the social entrepreneurship community, including the coveted Ashoka Fellow membership and an ethical business award by the Social Enterprise Mark.
As stated on its website, Cool2Care's vision is “to be the leading provider of one-to-one matching services for disabled young people and their families in the UK, incorporating trained volunteers, care-workers, personal assistants, befrienders, buddies, and professionals.†Cool2Care has innovatively responded to a lack of infrastructure, resources, development and services for families with disabled children. Cool2Care's empowering program is one attempt to facilitate families so that they can live enjoyable and healthy lives.
Contact Information:
Cool2Care Website
Woodbury, Littleford Lane, Shamley Green, Surrey
GU5 0RH
Telephone: 0845-123-5484
Empowering Childcare Networks
Cool2Care Matches Personal Assistants with Disabled Children
Trend Themes
1. Personalized Caregiver Matching - Cool2Care's matching services have disrupted the traditional caregiver industry by offering personalized one-to-one matching services for disabled young people and their families, incorporating trained volunteers, care-workers, personal assistants, befrienders, buddies, and professionals.
2. Workforce Development Training - Cool2Care's Workforce Development Training program is disrupting the training industry by offering specialization in working with disabled children and providing the skills required to give specialized care.
3. Volunteer Befriending - Cool2Care's Volunteer Befriending program has disrupted the elderly care industry by providing companionship services to disabled children that they may not receive from their immediate family in their day-to-day life.
Industry Implications
1. Caregiver Industry - The caregiver industry needs to invest in personalized one-to-one matching services like Cool2Care's to cater to the needs of families with disabled children.
2. Training Industry - Specialization programs for caregivers who can take care of disabled children are the need of the hour, and cooperation with social enterprises like Cool2Care providing such programs can disrupt the training industry in a positive way.
3. Elderly Care Industry - The elderly care industry can learn from Cool2Care's Volunteer Befriending program and offer companionship services to more people with disabilities who may not have a proper support system in place.