The impact of Children in Need

We are now a year into our work funded by BBC Children in Need following the amazing news that Pudsey was backing Paces.

The grant is allowing us to run a Paces Outreach Programme.

It gives children the opportunity to attend a course of weekly sessions as an introduction to Conductive Education and to help them:

  • Increase Mobility
  • Improve Self-Care
  • Improve Communication

As the above photograph of our Conductor Edit and Thomas, supported by our Outreach Programme, shows, the sessions are both fun and engaging whilst supporting the children achieve their goals.

We’re proud of the impact it’s had already, excited for the opportunities it brings for the future and grateful for the support of BBC Children In Need and everyone who donates to support the charity.

Law firm supports Sheffield charity to help more families

Paces is delighted to be welcoming a new team member thanks to the support of a leading law firm.

Irwin Mitchell have part-funded the position of Family Services Coordinator for the next two years and Josie Walker has now been appointed to the role.

Josie, who has a background in both the charitable and private sector – including a period working for a hospice – will focus on developing what Paces is able to offer families of those living with motor disorders and the support provided.

She said:

“I’m looking forward to the challenges that my new role here at Paces Sheffield will bring.

“Clearly, the charity is working hard to improve further the fantastic support they give all families – whether for the young people in school or the adult provision – and, together with the dedicated team, I hope to make a real difference to people’s lives wherever possible. These are exciting times for the charity and there are really big plans to secure ‘A New Home for Paces’.

Earlier this month, Paces launched their campaign to raise £1 million towards developing a new home for the school and charity in Sheffield.

Dr Spencer Pitfield OBE, Chief Executive of Paces, added:

“We are very excited to welcome Josie to our team. The charity has exciting plans to expand the support we can give to both children in our school and adults, and family services is such an important part of how we support all those we work with.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the generosity of Irwin Mitchell. They have part-funded Josie’s position for just over two years, and without such incredible support I have no doubt we would have really struggled to find the finances to fill this important position”.

Julianne Moore, Partner at Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield, said:

“We are hugely proud to support Paces in part funding this vital role for the school.  Over the years from our long-standing relationship with Paces we have seen first-hand the positive impact the work at Paces has on children with complex disabilities and their families.”

We launch a campaign to raise £1 million for a new home

We are launching a major new campaign to raise £1 million to build a new home.

Paces was founded 21 years ago and has been based at High Green in the north of the city for most of that time. As well as a popular school rated outstanding by Ofsted, the charity has developed to support adults who are leaping the void from childhood to adulthood as well as supporting those who are living with the impact of Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons or a stroke.

A growing number of people are now taking advantage of the unique support provided by the organisation through Conductive Education, and to meet growing demand, a vision of a new, modern, purpose-built home on a new site in Sheffield is being unveiled.

Students from Sheffield University’s School of Architecture undertook a six-week project before Christmas to examine options for the future and how a new home might look. Having presented those plans to parents, staff and trustees, the charity is launching a campaign to raise £1 million to turn that vision into reality.

Ann Menzies-Blythe, chair of trustees for Paces, said:

“21 years on from when a group of parents of children with Cerebral Palsy came together to form Paces, we need to plan for the future – to write our next chapter, to build a new home and raise a million pounds to ensure that can happen.

“We want it to be a home that builds on the past with a collective vision for a shared and exciting future, supporting more children, supporting more adults and supporting more families across Sheffield, South Yorkshire and beyond.”

The ‘A New Home For Paces’ campaign is now getting underway with businesses, organisations and individuals across Sheffield being asked to come together to support the vision.

A series of fundraising activities, workshops and events will be taking place in the coming months, including the charity’s chief executive walking up Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

Find out more about the campaign on our special section of the website >>