Centre for young disabled children awarded National Lottery funding

Local charity Small Steps is celebrating after being awarded £225,000 over three years in National Lottery Reaching Communities funding. 

The new funding, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, will enable Small Steps sessions to be expanded to support more children in need.

Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park visited Small Steps and said: “It’s always such a pleasure to come and visit Small Steps and to see the amazing experiences they give to children and their families. I am delighted to see how the organisation is thriving and continuing to provide the vital education that children need.”

Founder Anita Coppola MBE said early intervention is key to Small Steps work, “Small Steps works on all areas of a child’s development, with a focus on the physical. Helping the children develop everyday skills that are more challenging for them to achieve than for some children, such as sitting, balancing, standing and taking their first steps.”

“We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Evidence shows that the early years are a transformative time to support children, particularly those with neurological conditions, as their brains are still developing, so it’s critical that children get as much support as possible at this point.”

“To ensure sessions are accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances, Small Steps is a free service for every family. The funding from Reaching Communities will enable us to help many more families that need us.”

“We have an open-door policy and also make great tea!"

Based in Worple Way in Richmond, Small Steps has supported more than 1000 disabled children and their families since it started in 1998. It runs free weekly structured sessions for young children with physical disabilities and provides a much-needed support network for their families.

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