Reach for the sky with Flying Scholarships for Disabled People

In 1999, CareCo customer Ian Bennett was diagnosed with a rare, progressive neurological condition called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Four years after this, at the age of 40, Ian was forced to take ill health retirement from a job he loved, working in the aerospace industry. As you can imagine, these were dark days for Ian, but just when he needed it most, a life-changing opportunity came out of the blue... quite literally!

While browsing through a publication for disabled individuals, Ian came across an advert for a charity called Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP), who offer life-changing aviation experiences for disabled individuals. Having worked in aerospace for 20 years and always loved anything to do with aviation, Ian didn’t hesitate to put in an application, and in 2005 was delighted to be awarded a flying scholarship.

During his flight training, Ian flew solo, made many friends and said he noticed while airborne, his neurological problems never came to mind, and he was as able as anybody. After his scholarship he continued to fly as a hobby and there was a buzz in his life again that had been reignited by this amazing opportunity.

"There was a buzz in his life again that had been reignited by this amazing opportunity."

Ian’s debt of gratitude to this amazing charity led to him becoming a volunteer and later the charity’s first disabled trustee.

Founded in memory of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, a WWII Spitfire pilot who continued his flying career after losing both his legs in an accident, FSDP has, for over 40 years, changed hundreds of lives.

The charity’s mission is to inspire disabled adults and build their confidence, self-esteem, and future aspirations through the sharing and participation in life-changing aviation experiences.

To apply for a scholarship, all applicants initially complete an application form which is reviewed by trustees. Up to 20 individuals are then chosen for an assessment event at RAF Cranwell for a few days. There, applicants have the chance to meet each other and spend time with trustees and mentors. They also undergo medicals, interviews, team activities and a hangar visit where they get the opportunity to transfer into an aircraft cockpit. Following the time spent at RAF Cranwell, the scholars are selected for flying scholarships and are ‘buddied up’ with a fellow scholar or two.

The scholars then complete up to four weeks of flying training at their flying schools and stay in accessible accommodation nearby, together with their buddies. Weather permitting, they undergo daily flying training and ground school tuition. Flying aside, the whole experience can be challenging but also immensely rewarding as they adapt to living independently in a new environment.

Many make lifelong friends with their buddies and the wider FSDP community to which they are welcomed as family. Many past scholars have told the charity that on completing their scholarship, they’ve asked themselves ‘I can fly an aeroplane, what can’t I do?’

See the amazing stories of past scholars along with further information and an application form at www.fsdp.co.uk