Member Article

Heel and Toe charity celebrating its tenth birthday opening its new state-of-the-art therapy centre

A North-East children’s charity is on track to open its new therapy centre in 2018 to enable thousands of children with physical disabilities from across the region and beyond to have life changing support.

Heel and Toe which is based in Pelton, County Durham, launched the Footprints Appeal last year to raise money to convert a derelict building in Perkinsville into the only centre in the North East to house a hydrotherapy pool offering sessions for families with a therapist, plus therapy rooms, a Gait analysis suit, rebound therapy on a trampoline, a charity shop and accommodation for families who are travelling from outside of the region at reduced rates.

Over 500 children every month with cerebral palsy and physical disabilities have free conductive education therapy with the charity and this figure is expected to rise to 600 children a month in time for the planned opening of the new centre in October 2018.

The charity received £250,000 its biggest donation to date for the Footprints Appeal from the Bradbury Foundation which was announced at its Winter Wonderland Annual Ball in December.

Doug Long chief executive of Heel and Toe said: “2018 is a big year for the charity, in October we are celebrating our tenth anniversary and to coincide with this we are hoping to open our new building thanks to the success of the Footprints Appeal.

“We are absolutely delighted that the Bradbury Foundation has been so incredibly generous in providing a quarter of a million pounds, such a staggering amount of money towards our Footprints Appeal so our plans for Heel and Toe are set to become a reality.

“We knew that given the growing demand for our services for children and their families across the region and beyond, and the impact we have on those children and young people that we support, that we needed to expand to keep pace. This will help to transform the lives of children and young people living with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities and their families.”

Heel and Toe is now on track to complete phases one and two of the building work on the new centre. All three phases are expected to be completed by October 2018.

Phase 1 - includes hydro pool, family accommodation and one multi-purpose therapy room

Phase 2 - includes hydro pool, and two additional rooms to be used for gait analysis and on-going therapy and block physio - ongoing

Phase 3 - includes hydro pool and another two rooms to include rebound therapy and block physio. However, the charity must continue to fundraise to ensure the sustainability of its services as it receives no government grants for its work.

Doug added: “Whilst all this development and growth is exciting we must continue to ensure the sustainability of Heel and Toe’s invaluable work which means marquee events like the Winter Ball and the loyal support of our sponsors continue to play a central role in our fundraising calendar for 2018.”

Heel and Toe offers therapy to children and young people with physical disabilities including free conductive education sessions plus courses of intensive physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, Special Educational Needs tutoring (SEN) and outreach services with life changing results.

On top of the Footprints Appeal, the Heel and Toe Annual Winter Wonderland Ball is sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, Barclays and Stanley Travel and the money raised goes to support the ongoing sustainability of the charity that is so vital to hundreds of children and their families.

Follow the campaign on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn accounts, or post using #footprintsappeal.

For more information or to make a donation please visit http://heelandtoe.org.uk/footprints-building-appeal/ or contact Amanda Tweedy, fundraising executive at Amanda.tweedy@heelandtoe.org.uk or call 0191 386 8606.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by 2B Communications Limited .