The VINCI UK Foundation has donated £5,000 to The Brainwave Centre Limited to help implement their first, AI Chatbot facility.

Established in 1998 and based in Bridgwater, Somerset, The Brainwave Centre supports children and young people aged 0-18 with neurological and physical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, and autism. Their multidisciplinary team of specialist therapists empowers families to deliver bespoke educational and physical programs at home, ensuring continuity between therapy assessments and helping manage health and cognitive conditions.

The Brainwave Centre supports children facing social barriers, limited therapist accessibility, and disability discrimination, which hinder their full participation in education, social activities, and community life. Many of these children have reduced attention and focus, delayed language interpretation, and limited understanding of signing. They also assist children awaiting a formal diagnosis, addressing the gaps in the UK health and social care system. They work to break down barriers for children left behind by society, aiming to improve their future life choices and prevent a cycle of inequality extending into adulthood.

The funding aims to support families with disabled children nationwide by launching a transformative, charitable, digital AI Chatbot facility. This platform will offer a bespoke, user-friendly Brainwave app, allowing families to access advice and support 24/7, free of charge. The app will provide secure logins, personalised therapy slots, and real-time chat support, ensuring continuous assistance outside office hours.

The project will benefit 389 families currently on a Brainwave programme or national waiting list, and their children aged 0-18 years with conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, autism, metabolic disorders, epilepsy, and cerebella hypoplasia. Additionally, the centre anticipates supporting 170 new families per year through this AI initiative.

Damon Musgrove, Trust Funding Manager, says, “We are incredibly grateful to the VINCI UK Foundation for their generous grant, which will have a significant impact on progressing our digital transformation journey. This funding will enable us to provide even more timely and accessible support for the families we work with. By streamlining communication and offering 24/7 assistance, the new digital services will allow us to reach more families and ensure they receive the guidance and resources essential for their child’s development. VINCI’s support is a vital step in helping us expand our services and continue to make a difference in the lives of the families we support.”

In addition to the financial contribution, The Brainwave Centre Limited will receive the support of a VINCI UK Foundation Sponsor, Aidan McManus, Head of Project Delivery, Actemium UK.  

Aidan has taken on the responsibility of providing regular updates to VINCI Energies UK & RoI staff on the progress of the AI project, covering each stage from development to testing and implementation. Additionally, he will oversee the delivery of six-month and yearly progress reports, highlighting the impact of the new service on families and children. These reports will detail how Brainwave therapists are helping children achieve their educational goals and gain independence in essential life skills.

Aidan says “As as long-time supporter of Brainwave, having previously raised funds through charity bike rides, I am thrilled to sponsor the Innovations in Community Therapy Technology project through the VINCI UK Foundation. This initiative which includes the development of the Brainwave Connect app promises to revolutionise support services for families with disabled children by leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions. The VINCI UK Foundation’s funding will be instrumental in bringing this vision to life, providing families with accessible, innovative tools to enhance their children’s therapy and overall well-being“

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The VINCI UK Foundation was founded in 2016 with the mission to strengthen communities by improving access to employment, housing and mobility for society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Since then, the VINCI UK Foundation has combined almost £1.6 million in financial support with the practical skills and expertise of VINCI employees to help over 289 charities or community projects championing social inclusion across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Find out more about Brainwave Centre Limited and the VINCI UK Foundation.