A Sutton man has received an award from a London university research centre in recognition of his work in supporting children and young people with additional needs and/or a disability, and their parents and carers.

Jack Binch was honoured with the Wiki Champion Award by RIX Research and Media, part of the University of East London.

Jack, who has learning disabilities himself, is undertaking a year-long apprenticeship at Mansfield-based charity, A Place To Call Our Own (APTCOO).

The charity is offering a new service — the RIX Wiki — to families with children with special educational needs or disabilities.

The Wiki is an easy-to-build personal website that uses pictures, words, video and sound to capture the voice, skills, aspirations and needs of the individual.

Jack has worked to help children, parents and carers understand how they can use the Wikis to improve their lives. He has run weekly drop-in sessions, organised telephone support, and sends out a weekly email to those registered for RIX Wikis with reminders, suggestions and useful hints.

Jack said “A Wiki allows someone to get their views across. It gives them a voice when they might have been afraid because they had a disability.”

Simon Bernacki, strategic lead at APTCOO, said “Jack came to us through a work placement before eventually transitioning on to an apprenticeship. He is an inspiration to us all and embodies our ethos of learning through fun, without the fear of failure.”

APTCOO, which works to improve the quality of life for families with children with special educational needs or disabilities, has been appointed a Wiki Centre of Excellence by Nottinghamshire County Council.