Local charity Small Steps is celebrating after being awarded £225,000 over three years in National Lottery Reaching Communities funding.
Richmond-based charity Small Steps is set to extend its vital services after securing £225,000 in funding from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme. The grant, distributed over three years, will allow the charity to expand its free sessions, helping more children with physical disabilities develop essential life skills.
Local MP Sarah Olney visited the charity to celebrate the funding and praised its transformative work. “It’s always a pleasure to visit Small Steps and witness the incredible support they provide to children and their families. I’m delighted to see how the organisation is thriving and continuing to deliver vital early education,” she said.
Small Steps, founded in 1998, specialises in early intervention for young children with physical disabilities. The charity focuses on helping children achieve fundamental skills such as sitting, balancing, standing, and taking their first steps—tasks that can be particularly challenging for those with neurological conditions.
Founder Anita Coppola MBE highlighted the importance of early intervention in childhood development. “The early years are a crucial time to provide support, especially for children with neurological conditions, as their brains are still developing. This funding will ensure that more children get the help they need at this key stage,” she said.
Crucially, Small Steps remains a free service for every family, ensuring that financial constraints are never a barrier to access. “We want our sessions to be available to all families who need them,” Coppola added. “The National Lottery Community Fund’s support means we can continue to offer this lifeline to even more children.”
Since its launch, Small Steps has supported more than 1,000 children and their families, offering structured weekly sessions that not only aid in physical development but also provide much-needed emotional and social support.
The charity, based on Worple Way in Richmond, welcomes donations and volunteers to help sustain its vital work. “We have an open-door policy and also make great tea!” Coppola said, encouraging the local community to get involved.
For those interested in supporting Small Steps, opportunities include fundraising, volunteering, or making direct donations to help ensure that more children and families receive the assistance they need.
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