Helping children with disabilities and their families since 1981
Footprints Conductive Education Centre is a small, local charity based in Sneinton, Nottingham.
Our charity registration number is 1093006.
Please, take a look at our timeline to find out how it all began here in Nottingham and read about a few of our many achievements over the last 40 years:
Our team is gradually expanding. We recently recruited Emma-Jane Graham, our new [part-time] Manager (job share) to support Nathalie’s [part-time] Manager role, and Andrea Kelly joined us as our Community Fundraiser. Kirsten Bairstow-Robb, our Conductor, is now qualified to train Assistant Conductors, and Joanne Garwood is our first full-time trainee, working while training (the course is available to external trainees).
Alison Brooks took over as Interim Chair of Trustees following Tony Bates resignation, and following a search, we are delighted that Nic Jepson has agreed to be our new Chair, effective from July 18. Our ambassadors have expanded to include: Len Simmonds, Jackie Clark, Kryshia Ford-Wilson, Caroline Samworth, Lisa Fox, Dave Taylor, Ben Hicklin, and Sally Radford. Most of our family groups are at capacity, and we’re thrilled that BBC Children in Need has awarded us another three-year grant!
2018 – 2021 – a few rollercoaster years! COVID -19 meant we had to close our service to face-to-face sessions and find alternative ways to support our children and families. After a steep learning curve, we managed by using Zoom, and parents told us how grateful they were that we were one of the few services to keep going.
A year of no fundraising events proved daunting, however we were delighted to have new trustees – Becki Brooksbank, Richard Andrews, Rob Evans and David Allum.
By June 2021, we were ready to fully reopen as Covid hadn’t affected the number of children who need support. Emma-Jane Graham went on maternity leave and Andrea Kelly covered her management role. Amanda Longley and Sophie Underwood both joined the team in October as our Business Support Officer and Community Fundraiser.
2022 brought more changes to our team, but never to our support and commitment to our children and families. Emma Jane, Nathalie and Andrea decided to leave Footprints, as well as Lucie Gregory and Eileen Sleaford, who retired at the end of May. Claire Clarkson officially joined in March, responsible for our PR and Communications, after volunteering in the office for six months. Rebecca Bilsbrough also started in the spring as our much needed Classroom Assistant.
We continue to be so grateful to our Patron Richard Whitehead MBE and our committed ambassadors, Lisa Fox, Len Simmonds, Caroline Samworth and Sarah Vearnals. We are so thankful to them, and all of our supporters, including BBC Children in Need.
17th July 2022 marks a very special date for us – our 20-year anniversary of becoming a charity. We’re having a big celebration for our families and supporters and will be reflecting on our shared history. We’ll be celebrating with all of the families we have supported and seen grow, and looking to our exciting future where we’ll continue to help our children thrive and achieve their potential.
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