Formula 1’s Grid4Good and Yellow Submarine Accelerating Positive Change in Low-Income Countries
Indie Oxford member, Yellow Submarine, is a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and autism to live life to the full. They have collaborated with Grid4Good and Medical Aid International.
James, a dedicated member of Reach, a Yellow Submarine programme, proudly shares, “I have literally helped change someone’s life!”
This statement encapsulates the remarkable impact of the collaborative efforts between Grid4Good, Medical Aid International, and Yellow Submarine.
Grid4Good, a team of Formula 1 colleagues dedicated to driving positive change through non-profit initiatives, partnered with Medical Aid International to address a pressing need in low-income countries: affordable external fixators for broken legs. Typically, such a brace costs over £2000, an unattainable amount for many in underprivileged regions. Pat Warner, an innovative designer, stepped in to revolutionise this with an external fixator that can be produced for just £25. Through Medical Aid International, these life-saving devices will be distributed to those in need, offering hope and recovery to individuals who might otherwise lose the use of their legs.
The pilot project required the assembly of over 600 fixators, a task involving numerous intricate components. This is where James and his peers from the Reach programme, Kyle, Amy, Tom, Gareth, and Damo, played a crucial role. Over six sessions, the group diligently assembled, counted, and checked parts, ensuring the project met its deadline for shipment to Africa. Reach is a Yellow Submarine initiative designed to enhance confidence, wellbeing, and independence among adults with learning disabilities and autism. Throughout the project, the group not only honed their teamwork and communication skills but also experienced the profound personal value of contributing to the wellbeing of others.
Tim Beacon, CEO of Medical Aid International said “We were so delighted to work with Yellow Submarine and support them in their truly amazing work. The group did an amazing job, putting together a key part of the fixator, doing it quickly and efficiently. We look forward to continuing this relationship, they performed a vital role in helping people in so much need and we are very grateful.”
In addition to the technical accomplishment, participants were thrilled to visit an F1 facility, celebrating their hard work and the project’s tangible impact on lives in Africa. James and his peers take immense pride in their contribution, knowing it will bring significant change to those who receive the fixators.
Pat Warner, reflecting on the project’s success, shared a personal story: “Yellow Submarine changed my autistic daughter’s life. Through their social enterprise project, they gave Katie the opportunity to take on a traineeship, equipping her with the tools and confidence to work front of house in the service industry for the past seven years. As part of the fixator project, we needed someone to perform the light assembly tasks required before the fixator clamps could be delivered to Med-Aid. I recognised that this may provide Yellow Submarine with an opportunity to provide work experience from another industry to more young adults, hopefully giving further opportunities for future employment and I really wanted to be able to give something back. I’m very happy to say, they did an amazing job. I’m hopeful that this project will continue to deliver, and that Med-Aid and Yellow Submarine can continue to do great things together.”
This collaboration between Grid4Good, Medical Aid International, and Yellow Submarine exemplifies the powerful synergy of community, innovation, and compassion, proving that together, we can drive positive change and improve lives across the globe.
