A CHARITY helping children with cerebral palsy in Wirral and across the Northwest has had a boost of more than £300,000 from the National Lottery.
The £307,309 grant from the Lottery's Community Fund grant will enable Stick ‘n’ Step to establish its Pathways Programme, which will prepare young people with cerebral palsy for adulthood and is designed to provide them with the best chance of leading an independent and fulfilled life as adults.
The programme will support disabled young people from the age of 11 up to 25 for the challenging transition to adulthood, by focusing on four key areas: independent living, good health, employment and community inclusion.
The funding has been awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK.
Cerebral palsy affects about one in 400 children in the UK and is the most common motor disability in childhood.
It is a life-long condition affecting muscle control, coordination, and reflexes, and often leading to complex development issues.
Even simple tasks take longer and require more effort and focus, which can lead to frustration, especially as children reach their adolescent years when self-awareness increases and comparisons are made with their peers.
Stick ‘n’ Step provides free weekly conductive education sessions at its centres in Wallasey and Runcorn to children and young people with cerebral palsy up to the age of 25, allowing them to gain the skills they need to live more independent lives.
Sarah Smithson, the charity's chief executive said: "At Stick ‘n’ Step we empower disabled children from the age of six months old to reach their full potential in terms of mobility, confidence, and independence.
"Now, thanks to The National Lottery, we can establish our Pathways Programme, which will be genuinely life-changing for young people with cerebral palsy from across the region and we are so grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for enabling us to make it happen.
"The Pathways Programme has been devised in collaboration with the young people themselves, drawing on their lived experience."
The charity relies on supporters and volunteers to help raise the £750,000 required to deliver its services to over 100 families each year at its Wallasey and Runcorn centres.
For more details, visit www.sticknstep.org.
