Kids+ are delighted to announce that the 2024 recipient of the Donna Shaw ‘Spirit of Kids+ Award’ is Stephen Jewson of Jan Juc SLSC.

Each year, Kids+ recognise a member or group in the community who has made a significant voluntary contribution on the foundation. For 2024, that is Stephen Jewson and the volunteers of the Jan Juc SLSC, who, each year, donate their time to support the Kids+ Surf Ed program.

Jewson, who has been part of the Jan Juc SLSC since 1989, has, alongside dedicated volunteers, been instrumental in bringing the Kids+ Surf Ed program to life, making positive impacts on the lives of children and young people with disabilities. The week-long Surf Ed program, which has been running for 8 years, offers an opportunity for children with disabilities to experience the beach, the ocean, time on a surfboard, and even a trip on a jet ski – activities they would typically not experience due to accessibility barriers.

The Kids+ Surf Ed program takes place in January at Fisherman’s Beach, Torquay, and is also supported by the teams at Torquay Angling Club, Torquay Marine Rescue Services, and Go Ride a Wave.

The Award is named after Donna Shaw who was a long-standing Kids+ Director and advocate for young people with disabilities.

Janine Nichols and Jenny Flanders are awarded the Donna Shaw ‘Spirit of Kids+’ Award for 2022 at the Kids+ End of Year Event in Geelong in December 2022.