FOR 15 years, a county charity has been helping to make a difference to the lives of hundreds of children and young people with motor disabilities.

Today, the Hereford Times is stepping in to help Megan Baker House, based near Leominster, to raise enough money to enable 10 children to receive the life-changing conductive education it offers for one year.

Megan Baker House (MBH) helps children and teenagers with motor disabilities – including cerebral palsy, head injuries, stroke, and dyspraxia which makes it hard for them to cope with everyday tasks that we take for granted – to develop the skills needed to progress as young adults.

Families have travelled to the centre from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire for more than a decade to access conductive education services delivered by graduates and supported by classroom assistants.

In 15 years, more than 400 children have received help from the charity which prides itself on seeing a child’s ‘ability’ – not disability – with every child having a bespoke plan and targets to work towards.

Many, whose parents have been given the devastating news that they will never be able to do anything for themselves, have been able to learn to feed and dress themselves, go to the toilet on their own and even walk.

Many have been able to move into mainstream schooling due to the skills learnt at MBH.

The transformation for many children is staggering. But it is not magic. It takes sheer hard work and determination on the part of the children and staff.

Despite the hugely positive outcomes for the youngsters it helps, the charity receives no statutory income and must raise £6,000 each WEEK to be able to provide these life-changing services.

Now the Hereford Times is calling on readers to support a new fundraising campaign – Project Chrysalis – which sets out to raise £35,000 for the charity. The funds will be enough to sponsor a year of life-changing conductive education for 10 children.

We will be sharing regular updates about the campaign as well as case studies on those whose lives have been changed by the charity’s work and some of those who have made donations to support the work it does.

The campaign has the strong backing of Paralympian Sascha Kindred – an inspirational role model for the young children at MBH who see him as someone who has taken on the challenges life has thrown at him and won in spectacular fashion.

Ways to donate:

Find out more about the work of Megan Baker House here.