A growing storage firm has given a sweet boost to a Cheshire charity\u2019s \u00a31.5 million dream to open a new centre for children with additional needs.<\/p>\n
Lock Stock Self Storage has donated 150 chocolate selection boxes to Tiny Steps which supports children and young people with complex needs and their families across Northwich and Winsford.<\/p>\n
The North Wales-based company, which recently opened new storage parks in both towns, said it wanted to back the charity after being inspired by the efforts of its volunteers.<\/p>\n
Supporters have raised about \u00a3120,000 towards the \u00a31.5 million target and say the selection box gifts will raise plenty of smiles among the charity’s families this Christmas.<\/p>\n
Trustees Diane Dixon and Michelle Rayner accepted the chocolate treats from Ollie Beech, Lock Stock\u2019s marketing officer, at The Playbarn at Blakemere Village near Northwich.<\/p>\n
The Playbarn is one of several local venues often used by Tiny Steps for its regular stay and play sessions.<\/p>\n
According to Diane, the charity\u2019s ultimate ambition was to have a place of its own and fundraising was continuing to establish a permanent base.<\/p>\n
Mum-of-three Diane, from Weaverham, said: \u201cOur aim is to have our own sensory centre and social cafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are hoping to set up in Northwich or perhaps Winsford.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthwich would be our prime location because that\u2019s where everybody could get to because transport in and out of Northwich is a lot better than Winsford.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have nearly 200 families registered with us and probably about three quarters of those families have more than one child with additional needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously it\u2019s a lot of money to do this, so it\u2019s probably going to cost a minimum of \u00a31.5 million just for the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving our own base would mean our services would be accessible for everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the children are in wheelchairs and have disabilities, and others have autism and ADHD and complex needs, we do cover everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be designed with hoists, would be wheelchair accessible, we would have our own changing places.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need something which is especially tailored for all our children who have additional needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally we would want the base to be up and running now but we are a non-profit group so we need to fundraise and work with the local authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also looking to extend our offer to support siblings of children with additional needs and the parents and carers.”<\/p>\n
Lock Stock has a long-standing policy of supporting community groups in the areas where it operates.<\/p>\n
Ollie Beech said the company had been deeply impressed by the charity\u2019s passion to help families with children with additional needs.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s amazing in terms of what they have been able to deliver and offer to families.<\/p>\n
\u201cMyself and many of my colleagues personally know families who would appreciate this type of support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a massive challenge on a daily basis for the families so it\u2019s great the charity has stay and play sessions to offer support and for the children to be able to engage with each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope our gift gives everyone connected to the charity a bit of a lift this Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our first Christmas in Winsford and Northwich because we\u2019ve only had the sites since the summer, so it\u2019s brilliant for us to mark that through supporting the work of Tiny Steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diane was hugely grateful for the support from Lock Stock Self Storage.<\/p>\n
The mum, who was joined by her four-year-old daughter Elara for the selection boxes presentation, said: \u201cThe support is very welcome and it\u2019s a nice boost for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe selection boxes will definitely put a smile on a lot of children\u2019s faces – because who doesn\u2019t love chocolate?\u201d<\/p>\n
The charity was set up by Northwich couple Laura and Martin Clifton in 2013 to support families who have children with additional needs.<\/p>\n
They were spurred into action following the birth of their first-born daughter in 2010, who was born with significant developmental delays and a rare form of epilepsy called West syndrome.<\/p>\n
Diane said: \u201cThe aim from the beginning was to set up a local sensory centre and social cafe to reduce the isolation felt by families with children with additional needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set up a stay and play programme and that has been really popular with families because they felt so isolated with nowhere to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The growing charity now uses a variety of venues for its special stay and play programme including Simply Cycling at Wythenshawe, UA Trampoline Park at Winsford, The Playbarn, the Curzon Cinema at Knutsford and the paddling pool in Northwich, and has sessions with Jane Mullen Speech Therapy.<\/p>\n
Diane said she understood how isolating life could be for families with children with additional needs as her 12-year-old daughter Lienna is non-verbal and attends a SEN school and her eight-year-old daughter Lucianna has autism and undiagnosed ADHD.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI have been completely isolated and only found out about stuff through other parents and word of mouth because there is so little out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stay and play sessions massively reduce the isolation families feel. We\u2019ve all got children with additional needs so as a parent you feel the isolation more than anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want anyone to feel isolated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lock Stock, founded in Denbigh in 2000, has sites across Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire and under its expansion plans will have 38 sites across the UK by 2026.<\/p>\n
For information about Lock Stock Self Storage, including off-site container hire, contact them on 01745 817178 or go to\u00a0https:\/\/lockstock.biz\/<\/a><\/p>\n