A WOODFALLS student who was faced with having to abandon his university studies when statutory services offered his family a fraction of the funding needed for a new wheelchair has been able to fulfil his academic dreams.

Sam Morton moved away from home to study English language and scriptwriting at the University of Winchester. But with the functional life of his existing equipment coming to an end, only a £10,819 replacement would allow him to carry on.

The 19-year-old, who has cerebral palsy in all four limbs, said: “I honestly don’t think it would have been feasible to go off to university without a powered wheelchair. I can’t begin to describe how amazing the experience has been. It was definitely the best decision I ever made.”

Newlife, the Charity for Disabled Children, has supported Sam with wheelchair provision since 2007, so when he needed his third hi-tech piece of equipment and his family was left to find £6,555, it stepped in to help.

The alternative, statutory offer was a wheelchair that would not have had enough functions to meet the demands of independent living.

Sam said: “Wheelchair services offer you something that isn’t fit for your needs. The equipment originally offered wouldn’t enable me to be at university and live independently. Then when you say ‘no’ you are made to feel a burden and that you are ungrateful. This is why Newlife has made such a big difference.”

The charity was able to help on this occasion thanks to the support of fashion retailer River Island and its fantastic plastic initiative – contributing the profit from the sale of every carrier bag at every one of its UK stores to the charity, specifically for equipment provision. This initiative has resulted in £500,000 for Newlife.

He said: “The latest wheelchair has changed everything. This summer I’m going to do something I thought I would never be able to do – go to music festivals. The equipment will ensure my continued independence.”

Sam is now helping Newlife raise awareness of how the charity can help other young people with a new app. Go to newlife.zone/app.