Stick n Step

November 2023 –

The Kentown Wizard Foundation has awarded £244,000 to Stick ‘n’ Step to establish a new Early Intervention Programme that will see children as young as 6 months old assessed by conductive education therapists. The programme will aim to enhance their service and facilities by providing tailored Conductive Education sessions to babies and toddlers who are most in need, as early as possible in the child’s life.

Stick n Step enables, inspires and supports children and young people with neurological conditions, primarily cerebral palsy, which affects around 1 in 400 children in the UK and is the most common motor disability of childhood.

They focus on delivering Conductive Education (CE), a highly specialised and innovative programme which looks at the whole person, creating activities aimed at improving motor skills as well as supporting social-emotional development. CE is key to improving a child’s development, especially when started at an early age.

Although an official diagnosis may only be given to a child after a few years, there are indications that the central nervous system is damaged and that a baby may have cerebral palsy in early life. At this point, early intervention can be transformative.

Sarah Smithson, Interim Chief Executive, Stick ‘n’ Step says,
“At Stick ‘n’ Step our aim is to empower disabled children to fulfil their potential in terms of mobility, confidence and independence. Early intervention can be life-changing and thanks to this amazing support from Kentown Wizard we will be able to help more babies and toddlers to overcome the challenges of living with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders. We are thrilled to be working with Kentown Wizard on this project which will transform lives and give every young child who joins us the best start in life.”

Stick n Step raises the aspirations of disabled children, young people and their families, by focusing on what the child can do and not on what they can’t do. Children whose parents were told they would never walk independently have gone on to take their first independent steps at Stick n Step, which is why it is vital that these children and families have access to these services as soon as possible.

Anna Twentyman, CFO of The Kentown Wizard Foundation says,
“Through The Early Intervention Programme, Stick n Step will provide vital support to children as young as 6 months old, giving them the best chance at an independent and fulfilled future. We are delighted to fund such an inspirational programme and we are confident that it will make a real difference to the children and families it serves.”

Local families can find out more about applying for the early intervention programme here. The first classes will begin in January at the Stick ‘n’ Step centres in Wallasey and Runcorn.

Charity Registration number: 1136997 (England and Wales)