Boost for therapy centre

A CENTRE that’s helping people with long-term neurological conditions is expanding its services, thanks to the Steve Morgan Foundation

The Neuro Therapy Centre, which supports people across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside, has received a grant of £91,278 to fund the salary of an additional therapist at its Saltney premises

One in ten people in the UK has one of the neurological conditions that the centre supports through a wide range of activities

The centre has an oxygen therapy capsule, a fitness gym, a physiotherapy facility, therapy rooms and a cafe area

Demand for services is high and membership is due to increase by 50% – with physio sessions going from 155 a month to 210 over the coming months

Jane Johnston-Cree, CEO, said:

“The Steve Morgan Foundation is a wonderful supporter of small charities like ourselves, and we’re so grateful for their support

“Fundraising is getting tougher but the demand for our services keeps increasing ”

Jane Harris, Director of Grants at the Steve Morgan Foundation, said: “The Foundation has supported The Neuro Therapy Centre with various grants since 2011, when it was known as The Multiple Sclerosis Centre

“We have been hugely impressed with how this charity has grown and adapted its services to reach a wider audience and to provide extensive support, both face to face and online

“We are delighted to maintain support to underpin their continued growth ”

Region’s children losing vital help

CHILDREN with sight loss are missing out on vital support as budgets are cut and specialist teachers lost

And young people in the North West are being hit hardest

The Royal National institute of Blind People has revealed that despite an increase in the need for specialist support, nearly half (42%) of local authority visual impaired education (VI) teams in England have experienced real term cuts through budgets being cut or frozen in the past year.

And through a Freedom of Information request, the charity found 60% of local authorities reported a decrease or freeze in specialist VI teachers in the last 12 months.

As a result, half of all children and young people with vision impairment will have their access to specialist support adversely affected

The North West is most affected by the cuts, with 57% of local authorities experiencing cuts and freezes to budgets

Caireen Sutherland, RNIB’s head of education, said: “We are extremely concerned that caseloads continue to rise and access to vital specialist support is being reduced

“This will not only impact on education, but will have a significant impact on children’s opportunities in later life.

“We need immediate actions from the Government to improve access to specialist VI support ”