Support us – Footprints CEC

Help to make a BIG difference to the lives of our children and families – please, click here and donate to Footprints

Following an incredibly challenging year for all our families, we hoped 2021 would be a brighter start (as with many other charities). To support the families that need our help, we must raise at least £200,000.

Our families know loneliness and isolation better than most, but this feeling has heightened beyond words during lockdowns and restrictions. They had to cope with their children’s constant needs with little or no support for more than a year. During 2020 and into 2021 we did as much as we could and offered virtual sessions and phone calls. We all know that virtual is no replacement for actual contact, though. A zoom class doesn’t give the physical contact a child needs to progress, and a phone call is no replacement for a hug.

Our fundraising activity moved online in 2020 and was so well supported. We are incredibly grateful to all those who set up pages and donated – you did indeed keep Footprints afloat!

Now we need help to Fund Footprints Future. Live events to generate income and bring people back together are tentative and our destiny remains uncertain unless we continue to secure fundraising from our amazing supporters.

If you can help with #FundingFootprintsFuture, we will be forever grateful.

Thank you from us all at Footprints.

https://bit.ly/FundingFootprintsFuture-JustGiving

Your support really will make a difference. Please donate now and help us help disabled children to achieve their potential. Or, if you can, please set up a Standing Order and gift us a monthly amount. No amount is too small.

Our bank details:

Footprints Conductive Education Centre

The Co-operative Bank

Sort Code – 08 92 99

Account Number – 65883042

Please include your name for reference

Footprints is a registered charity: 1093006 and a Company Limited by Guarantee: 04186674

…………………………………

Coming up on Sunday 8 August 2021 …

It’s the Footprints Cup being played at Ilkeston Town FC!

With ex-professional footballers being announced daily, including Marlon Harewood, Andy Reid, Kelvin Wilson, Paddy Kenny …

Celebrity soap stars, and some great local talent too.

A fantastic, fun day out for the family. Organised by Paul Brooks and friends to support Footprints CEC.

Get your tickets online and be in with a chance to win an Amazon Echo – £5 adult, £1 over 10s, under 10s FREE https://bit.ly/TheFootprintsCup21Tickets

…………………………………..

SOLD OUT! Friday 5 November 2021 is the Little Footprints Ball at the fabulous Crowne Plaza in Nottingham!

Lisa Fox, a Footprints ambassador, organises this super-smart event. The event has been held back from November 2020, and there’s a lot of interest, which means there are just a few tables left.

Visit the event’s page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/715557702235412.

If you would like to be part of a glamorous night raising funds for Footprints, please contact Lisa at little.footprints@outlook.com.

…………………………………..

PREVIOUS ACTIVITY

The Footprints 2021 Family Challenge kicks off during international Conductive Education Awareness Week – 15 to 21 March 2021 (including Down’s syndrome awareness week). We can’t wait to see all our incredible achievers! See more information here https://www.footprintscec.org/news-2-2/family-challenge-helps-celebrate-conductive-education-awareness-week-from-15th-21st-march/.

Here’s Matthew – aged six, Matthew’s challenge is to learn how to feed himself – Mum, Lucie said, “Day one of Matthew feeding himself (with help loading the spoon and guiding into his mouth). Very messy, and he only let me help him with a few spoonfuls. Let’s hope by the end of March he’ll be less messy and much more willing.”

#FamilyChallenge21 #ConductiveEducation #thesekidsCAN

………………………………….

2020

URGENT support request – As a small, independent charity, Footprints Conductive Education Centre relies almost entirely on the generosity of individuals and businesses (as well as Grants and Trusts funding) to support disabled children and their families in the Nottinghamshire area.

All other services have been stopped, so we have no input from professionals who used to support my son. Footprints is a vital part of our lives.

Please help us to continue providing our vital service during this critical time. Although we’re extending our work to offer support for families at home (taken up by 100% of families), our overheads remain the same, and fundraising opportunities are minimal. As a result, our planned events are cancelled, resulting in a significant drop in income.

Funding will allow us to sustain the delivery of some of our core services via an online platform. The majority of our families now find they have become their child’s teacher, nurse, physio, speech therapist, sole carer and parent.

We must KEEP FOOTPRINTS AFLOAT – please, CLICK HERE, and donate whatever you can.

The 2.6 Challenge on 26 April has so far raised an astonishing £12,000+ for Footprints. Click here to see our challengers!

Or scroll down to see all our ‘Home Heroes’ – a mix of #KeepFootprintsAfloat fundraising and #twopointsixchallenge

Martin’s 28 peaks in 28 weeks challenge

My daughter Millie came into the world extremely early and was born at 28 weeks gestation. I nearly lost both Millie and my wife, Laura. I am climbing 28 peaks in 28 weeks for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they change and improve children’s lives.

Jack’s 2.6 km Dinosaur Walk
2-year-old Jack will be making footprints of his own for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because he wants to keep Footprints Afloat.

Laurence’s Lockdown Laps
Aged 6. I am running 20 laps of my garden every day for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they look after people who need extra special help.

Joseph and Les 2.6 Challenge
Joseph & dad, Les, are cycling 26k on their tandem for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they deserve & need our financial support.

Elsies 26 steps challenge
I am completing 26 steps for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they helped me take my first steps!

Nathalie, Lizzy, Hugo & Gideon’s 2.6 minutes “Chesney” Challenge

ANDREA’s 2.6 Challenge
I am doing 26,000 steps for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because The small charities need support to survive.

Naomi’s Daniels 26 step challenge
Daniel will take 26 steps for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because Footprints have helped us get to where we are.

Emma-Jane’s 2.6 Challenge
I’m going to embarrass myself for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they really need our support.

Joe’s Kick Up – Footprints 2.6 Challenge for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because of the fantastic service they offer to families

Lucie’s 2.6 Challenge – Thriller!
I will learn the Thriller dance for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because I want to do something to help save Footprints!

Abbey&Fred splash and dash 2.6 challenge for Footprints CEC
Abbey&Fred splash and dash challenge for Footprints Conductive Education Centre to #keepfootprintsafloat

Nic’s 2.6 Challenge – Sod the Pacemaker! I’m walking for 2.6 hours, including a 2.6 mile run for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because the children need the charity’s services. Simple.

Kirsty’s 2.6 Challenge
Walking 26 miles as a family between 26/04 – 3/05 for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they are in desperate need of funds

Emma’s 2.6 Challenge
I am walking 26.2 miles in the next 2 weeks for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they are necessary to Robin’s progression.

Prinn Family and Friends 2.6 Challenge
We are each doing a 2.6 challenge to raise funds for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because it’s an exceptional place that needs our help.

Chris’s 2.6 Challenge
I am doing a 26-mile bike ride for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they are an amazing charity close to our hearts!

Joseph & Harrys 2.6 Challenge
Harry’s 26 laps and Joseph’s sour-sweet dice roll for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because we want to see them continue to help others.

Ali’s #2.6 challenge Quiz Thursday 7th May.
Quiz night to raise money for Footprints Conductive Education Centre because they support children with special needs.

“We are facing a hugely challenging and unprecedented situation that is unfolding daily. As the situation develops, my concern grows for the future of Footprints and our ability to raise funds and remain sustainable. Knowing we are not alone in this, offers some comfort but we exist to enable children with neurodisability to reach their potential. It is devastating not to be able to deliver a service that is a lifeline to these children and their families.”

Parents’ isolation and anxiety is real and Footprints is often their main source of support.

“This is by far the most valuable service we access all week”

“It’s not just the input for the children we will miss but the interaction with other parents”

“Are you able to give us any tasks to work on at home, we are a bit lost already and it seems such a long time (to be without the service).”

We must raise a minimum of £17,000 a month to provide our Conductive Education and support services. Our early intervention support allows disabled children to gain the confidence, essential skills and quality of life that many non-disabled people take for granted.

Your support really will make a difference. Please donate now to help us help disabled children achieve their potential. Or set up a Standing Order and gift us a monthly amount:

Our bank details:

Footprints Conductive Education Centre

The Co-operative Bank

Sort Code – 08 92 99

Account Number – 65883042

Please include your name for reference

How your donation will help

£3,400 will transform the lives of parent and child, giving practical advice and emotional support to one of our families for one year
£1,000 will purchase low and high technology communication aids and sensory toys
£500 will provide new supplies of books to support our specialised pre-reading and writing skills work
£100 will pay for one session for a family
£25 buys a supply of bubbles, chewy tubes and other equipment to help with our speech therapy project for children with Down’s syndrome

Download our fundraising pack:

Join in our events

As a small charity with limited resources, we struggle to organise many large fundraising events, so we are delighted when people host events on our behalf!

Dates for your diary! For all event details, please email andrea.kelly@footprintscec.org.

Why your support is so important

You can give a family hope.

In the past year, we helped 81 children – children experiencing a range of impairments including cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome and global development delay. Despite the considerable financial challenges faced (by many small charities), we are immensely proud that more than 90% of our pre-school children who moved on to school ‘graduated’ to mainstream education.

A high number of services – statutory and voluntary – help children progress, and we passionately believe that Footprints CEC also makes a significant contribution. Greater independence, access to mainstream services, and making friends depend on doing the day-to-day activities others take for granted. Our focus on developing vital communication and movement skills and practising daily tasks such as eating, drinking, going to the toilet, and seeking help better equip children to go to school, attend appointments, and participate in social activities.

We systematically analysed parental evaluations and professional assessments to understand better the impact of our pre-school service as a whole.

Our results showed:

91% of children supported developed better movement and coordination skills
86% grew in self-confidence
90% achieved their individual goals

“You can take from me that this tiny place genuinely and fundamentally changes the lives of these special little children and the lives of their parents – I know this because it’s changed our lives, and I’ve seen it change others too. Some parents are without hope before they find Footprints.” Parent

There are lots of other ways you can support us. Click here to find out more.

See Logan’s story as told by Danny Dyer for BBC Children in Need http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037zt2n.