Money you helped raise allowed us to harness cutting-edge technology to create relatively simple but life-changing devices to give people with disabilities greater independence.

Swansea Bay Health Charity funds helped cover the costs of raw materials which were used to develop a range of personalised devices and aids, such as holders for deodorant, hair curlers and nail varnish.

Using state-of-the-art 3D printing, Jonathan Howard, a clinical scientist at the Rehabilitation Engineering Unit based at Morriston Hospital, produced designs which were then used in the production of the devices to meet individual needs, making such a huge difference to recipients.

Georgia Sinclair, who has hemiplegia (paralysis of the left-hand side of her body) was among those to benefit from the innovative project back in 2022.

After receiving one of the aids designed by Jonathan, Georgia said: “I have struggled with trying to be independent again, and Jonathan has been designing products for me to become more independent, such as to help me do my hair.

“The struggle with being a disabled person is that you lack independence on things that you know are so simple. I have become a lot more independent. It has benefited me a lot.”

Jonathan said: “The funding we received through the charity allowed us to look at our research involving the end user in the design of their own assistive technology.”

Jonathan’s work was made possible by our wonderful fundraisers, donors and supporters.

You can join them in helping us to fund technology which will make a big difference to people’s lives. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you’ve played a part in making this work happen.

Participants even shared the various benefits from having the personalised aid in a video, which can be viewed here.