A PIONEERING charity in Oswestry committed to helping children with movement difficulties has launched a fully-funded treatment programme for the first time meaning families will no longer have to pay anything.

It means families with children attending The Movement Centre in Oswestry will no longer have to find the partial funding of £2,000 necessary to fund the unique and life-changing therapy – thanks to the ongoing tireless efforts of fundraisers, sponsors and supporters of the charity.

The Movement Centre is giving children the chance to gain more control of their movement and reach their full potential through Targeted Training therapy, the only therapy of its kind in the world.

Treatment has been helping to transform the range of movement of children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities affecting their mobility for more than 25 years.

It helps children with movement such as gaining head control so that they can interact with those around them, sit unaided and can lead to gaining the ability to walk.

David Vicary, chairman of trustees at The Movement Centre, said: “This is a huge milestone and a massive change for the centre and for those benefitting from the amazing work carried out here by our staff.

“Thanks to the commitment of existing fundraisers and supporters we are delighted to be able to make the therapy for every child fully funded for the first time in the history of the charity.

“Previously families have had to pay £2,000 for Targeted Training Therapy, which was the biggest obstacle to them accessing this vital treatment.

"The therapy to improve movement makes a life-changing difference to a child and their family and can even see children taking their first steps.

“For others it is the difference between being able to sit at the table with their families, playing games on the floor with siblings and friends or using their arms and hands for tasks that the rest of us so often take for granted.

“It's a special moment for the trustees.

"It’s also a pivotal moment for families as not having to pay a penny for the treatment means a huge financial burden has been lifted for them.”

Archie Klein, from north Shropshire, has Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy and has been set up in a standing frame with a flat posterior support at sacral level and support directly below the knees to improve his standing and stepping abilities.

Archie’s mum, Leanne Hoey, said: “It is just brilliant to be able to go ahead with the treatment now and not have to worry about how we are going to find the money to pay for it.

"We were thinking we would have to find the money somehow and didn’t know until our last appointment that Archie’s treatment would be fully funded."

Mr Vicary said physios at The Movement Centre are now looking to work with paediatric consultants, GPs and healthcare professionals across the UK to ensure they all know about the important work the centre does.

He added: “Countless people support the charity every year and without their fundraising efforts and donations we simply would not be able to continue, so our message is please carry on arranging fundraising events and making those donations – we need your help now more than ever!”

To make a self referral visit https://www.the-movement-centre.co.uk/refer-to-the-movement-centre/