Stick 'n' Step

Stick 'n' Step is a United Kingdom charity that provides conductive education sessions for children and young people with cerebral palsy and their families. It describes its purpose as existing "to provide conductive education sessions, so that we can enable, inspire and support children with cerebral palsy and their families." The organisation runs small-group sessions that combine play, mobility tasks and songs to develop functional skills, and every child works towards an Individual Development Plan with personalised goals. According to its website, it delivers 22 group sessions each week and supports over 100 children every week. The charity traces its origins to a parent group that raised funds for a local conductive education provider. When that provision was withdrawn in 2002, the parents decided to keep the service going themselves, raising funds solely through parent activities and transforming a donated space into a suitable venue for children and staff. Stick 'n' Step moved to its Wallasey premises in June 2009, and in 2017 opened a second centre in Runcorn with backing from the Steve Morgan Foundation. The organisation states that it receives no funding from statutory bodies and relies on the generosity of friends, supporters, local communities, businesses and grant-providers. The name Stick 'n' Step comes from the charity's early days, when most of the children were of pre-school and primary age and many were learning to walk with mobility aids (sticks). Parents chose the name because they would hear conductors repeating "stick… and step" in a slow rhythm to help children control their movements and coordinate their steps. Today the charity works with children and young people from 0 to 25 years old with a range of personal goals, which may or may not include walking with a stick. Stick 'n' Step is based in the Wirral area of North West England and operates centres in Wallasey and Runcorn. It is an active member of the Conductive Education Consortium UK, a group that meets regularly to overcome shared challenges and promote the delivery of conductive education across the UK. The charity also engages in fundraising events and community activities, and has a patron, trustees and a team of volunteers at the heart of its work.

Stick 'n' Step began as a parent group that raised funds for a local conductive education provider. When that provision was withdrawn in 2002, the parents decided to pull together and keep the vital service going for their children. Funds were raised solely through parent activities. A venue was sought with the help of Father Frank Rice and his parishioners, and the parents transformed this space, making it fit for the children and staff team to use for conductive education. The charity states that without the hard work and dedication of this group of parents, Stick 'n' Step would not exist today. The charity moved to its Wallasey premises in June 2009. To this day, Stick 'n' Step receives no funding from statutory bodies but continues thanks to the ongoing generosity of friends and supporters, including local communities and businesses and grant-providers. In 2017 Stick 'n' Step was able to open a second centre in Runcorn, thanks to the backing of the Steve Morgan Foundation. The name Stick 'n' Step comes from the charity's early days. Most of the children were of pre-school and primary age and many were learning to walk with mobility aids (sticks). The parents chose the name because they would hear conductors repeating "stick… and step" in a slow rhythm to help those children control their movements, coordinate their steps, and move forward at a steady pace. Nowadays the charity works with children and young people from 0 to 25 years old with a range of personal goals which may or may not include walking with a stick, but the name Stick 'n' Step is treasured by all involved. Stick 'n' Step delivers conductive education sessions that incorporate play, mobility tasks and songs to develop functional skills. Children and young people work in small groups based on their ability, creating a positive environment where children are motivated to learn while having fun. Every child and young person that attends has an Individual Development Plan with specific goals and objectives, and tasks and exercises are tailored to each child's ability and development even within the group setting. The charity is an active member of the Conductive Education Consortium UK, which meets regularly to overcome shared challenges and promote the delivery of conductive education across the UK. According to its website, Stick 'n' Step delivers 22 group sessions each week and supports over 100 children every week, with 100% of children attending reported to feel more confident. Thanks to funding from The Kentown Wizard Foundation, the charity has introduced a new early intervention programme for babies from 6 months old. The organisation also relies on volunteers, describing them as at the heart of its work, and engages supporters through fundraising events and challenges.

• 2017

  Opens a second centre in Runcorn with backing from the Steve Morgan Foundation.

• 2009

  Charity moves to its Wallasey premises in June.

• 2002

  Local conductive education provision withdrawn; parents form a group to keep the service going, raising funds solely through parent activities.

• Introduces a new early intervention programme for babies from 6 months old, funded by The Kentown Wizard Foundation.

A parent-founded UK charity delivering conductive education to children and young people with cerebral palsy, funded by donations and grants rather than statutory bodies.

• Conductive education group sessions

  Small-group sessions incorporating play, mobility tasks and songs to develop functional skills.

• Individual Development Plans

  Personalised goals and objectives for every child and young person attending.

• Early intervention programme

  A programme for babies from 6 months old, funded by The Kentown Wizard Foundation.

1. 1Stick 'n' Step | Supporting children with cerebral palsysticknstep.org
2. 2History | Stick 'n' Stepsticknstep.org
3. 3About Us | Stick 'n' Stepsticknstep.org
4. 4Conductive Education | Stick 'n' Stepsticknstep.org
5. 5Stick 'n' Stepwikidata.org