Stick 'n' Step
Stick 'n' Step is a UK charity founded in 2002 that delivers free Conductive Education sessions to over 100 children and young people aged 0–25 with cerebral palsy each week, operating two specialist centres in Wallasey and Runcorn across the North West of England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersWallasey, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stick 'n' Step does
Stick 'n' Step is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1136997) and company limited by guarantee, founded in 2002 by parents of children with cerebral palsy. The organisation delivers Conductive Education (CE) — a methodology combining education, psychology, and medical science that treats the child holistically rather than addressing motor impairment in isolation. Its service platform consists of three integrated programmes: core weekly Conductive Education sessions for children and young people aged 0–25, an Early Intervention Programme for babies from six months old (launched November 2023), and a Pathways Programme supporting transition to adulthood for ages 11–25 (launched September 2024). Sessions are delivered by qualified conductors at two physical centres — Wallasey (Wirral) and Runcorn (Cheshire) — serving over 100 children weekly across 22 group sessions, with families travelling from Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales.
All Conductive Education sessions are provided free of charge to families. The charity receives no statutory government funding, operating instead on a donations-and-grants revenue model. Annual fundraising target is £750,000, with confirmed multi-year commitments including £307,309 from the National Lottery Community Fund (2024, three years) and £90,000 from the Steve Morgan Foundation (2023, three years). Additional revenue streams include individual donations (starting at £5/month), community fundraising events (notably a 20-year annual golf day at Pryors Hayes that has cumulatively raised over £500,000), corporate partnerships, challenge events, and gifts in wills. The organisation holds a dedicated legal support panel for families and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and the ICO.
Operationally, Stick 'n' Step runs a lean team of approximately 20 staff led by CEO Sarah Smithson, including a Head of Conductive Education, two regional fundraisers, conductors, and classroom assistants. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Rob Shorthouse. Distribution is entirely centre-based with no digital delivery channel, and geographic expansion has been historically limited to the North West of England. Recent strategic activity has focused on broadening the age-range of beneficiaries (downward into early intervention, upward into adult transition) rather than geographic replication, funded primarily by securing large institutional grants and deepening corporate sponsor relationships.
Stick 'n' Step firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stick 'n' Step
- Legal name
- Stick 'n' Step
- Website
- https://sticknstep.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stick 'n' Step is a UK charity founded in 2002 that delivers free Conductive Education sessions to over 100 children and young people aged 0–25 with cerebral palsy each week, operating two specialist centres in Wallasey and Runcorn across the North West of England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stick 'n' Step industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Services and Specialist Education
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Physical Therapy (Early Intervention) (EDACAFAD), Gross Motor Development & Motor Learning Interventions (EDAKAGAG), School-Age Wraparound Care (Ages 3–5) (EDACAHAA)
Keywords
Where Stick 'n' Step is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wallasey
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Stick 'n' Step business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Charity receives no funding from statutory bodies; relies on donations from individuals, community fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and supporter generosity
- Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations such as The Steve Morgan Foundation (£90,000 over three years) and The Kentown Wizard Foundation for specific programmes
- National Lottery Community Fund: £307,309 grant over three years to establish Pathways Programme for transition to adulthood
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free services for children with cerebral palsy |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stick 'n' Step product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stick 'n' Step delivers Conductive Education sessions free of charge to children and young people aged 0-25 with cerebral palsy from its centres in Wallasey and Runcorn. Each child follows an Individual Development Plan with personalised mobility, confidence and independence goals, supported by qualified conductors and supplemented by the Early Intervention Programme (babies from 6 months) and the Pathways Programme (ages 11-25 transition to adulthood). The charity operates with no statutory funding and serves over 100 children weekly across 22 group sessions.
Product overview
Stick 'n' Step is a charitable organization offering Conductive Education services for children and young people with cerebral palsy. The core offering includes weekly Conductive Education sessions at specialist centres in Wallasey and Runcorn, supplemented by the Early Intervention Programme for babies from six months old (launched November 2023 in partnership with The Kentown Wizard Foundation) and the Pathways Programme for young people ages 11-25 transitioning to adulthood (launched September 2024 with National Lottery Community Fund). Services are delivered through Individual Development Plans tailored to each child's goals. The organization supports over 100 children weekly across 22 group sessions, operating as a single integrated service model without a platform-plus-modules architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conductive Education Sessions Weekly Conductive Education sessions delivered free of charge to children and young people with cerebral palsy, designed to help each child reach their personal potential in terms of mobility, confidence, and independence. Delivered at centres in Wallasey and Runcorn.
- Early Intervention Programme Conductive Education services for babies from six months of age whose parents may be concerned about their physical development, such as not reaching expected milestones. Early intervention increases the chance of improving mobility as they grow older.
- Pathways Programme Programme supporting disabled young people from age 11 to 25 for the challenging transition to adulthood, focusing on four key areas: independent living, good health, employment, and community inclusion.
- Individual Development Plans Personalized goal-setting for each child and young person attending sessions, with specific goals and objectives tailored to their ability and development needs.
- Donation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of children attending feel more confident
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stick 'n' Step
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stick 'n' Step technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Stick 'n' Step partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Graystons SolicitorscoreGraystons Solicitors is the headline sponsor for the Stick 'n' Step fundraising ball at Liverpool's Titanic Hotel on 17th July 2026. The firm is also part of the charity's legal support panel and has staff participating in fundraising events.
- Catalyst InteriorsminorLong-time supporter sponsoring the annual Pryors Hayes golf day event.
- Pryors Hayes Golf ClubminorVenue for annual charity golf day that has raised over £500,000 over 20 years.
- Mid Wirral Rotary ClubminorOrganiser of the Wirral Walk event celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026.
- Fletchers SolicitorsminorLegal panel member and sponsor of family fun day event.
- HSBC BankminorOrganised and ran tombola at family fun day and provided match funding.
- Barclays BankminorOrganised and ran tombola at family fun day and provided match funding.
- Rob PalmercoreSky Sports commentator who organises the annual golf day as ambassador for Stick 'n' Step.
- Billy Hui BEM DLcoreBBC Radio Merseyside presenter, founder and musical director of SingMe Merseyside Choir, long-term supporter and Master of Ceremonies at fundraising events.
- Cheshire Fire BrigademinorAttended family fun day letting children climb on fire engine and try on helmets.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Stick 'n' Step competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Together for Short Lives: UK children's palliative care charity. Adjacent peer on family-centred services for children with complex disabilities, although its focus is palliative rather than developmental therapy.
Direct peers
- Bobath Children's Therapy Centre: UK charity providing specialist therapy (Bobath concept) for children with cerebral palsy. Closely comparable in delivering centre-based, specialist neurological therapy for children with CP, although using a different therapeutic methodology.
- National Institute of Conductive Education (NICE): UK charity delivering Conductive Education services for children and adults with neurological conditions. Uses the same methodology as Stick 'n' Step and represents the closest like-for-like peer in therapeutic approach.
- Cerebra: UK charity supporting children with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions and their families. Directly comparable mission, beneficiary population, and family-support service model across the UK.
Emerging players
- Whizz-Kidz: UK charity providing mobility equipment and wheelchair services for disabled children. Comparable on beneficiary base (young people with physical disabilities) and family-support ethos, though focuses on equipment provision rather than therapy.
- KIDS: UK charity working with disabled children, young people, and their families. Overlaps on family support and disability services but with broader special educational needs focus rather than CP-specific therapy.
- Newlife Foundation: UK charity supporting disabled and terminally ill children through equipment grants and nurse-led support. Comparable funding model (corporate partnerships, grants) and beneficiary overlap with disabled children, but different service type.
Broad incumbents
- Scope: Major UK disability charity with cerebral palsy as a core focus area. Overlaps significantly on beneficiary base and family support, but operates at national scale and across the broader disability population rather than specialising in Conductive Education.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stick 'n' Step social profiles
Digital presenceStick 'n' Step compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Stick 'n' Step financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stick 'n' Step leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Stick 'n' Step funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stick 'n' Step M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stick 'n' Step
What does Stick 'n' Step do?
Stick 'n' Step delivers Conductive Education sessions free of charge to children and young people aged 0-25 with cerebral palsy from its centres in Wallasey and Runcorn. Each child follows an Individual Development Plan with personalised mobility, confidence and independence goals, supported by qualified conductors and supplemented by the Early Intervention Programme (babies from 6 months) and the Pathways Programme (ages 11-25 transition to adulthood). The charity operates with no statutory funding and serves over 100 children weekly across 22 group sessions.
Is Stick 'n' Step a public or private company?
Stick 'n' Step is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stick 'n' Step founded?
Stick 'n' Step was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Stick 'n' Step based?
Stick 'n' Step is headquartered in Wallasey, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Stick 'n' Step make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and national Lottery Community Fund.
Who are Stick 'n' Step's main competitors?
Together for Short Lives is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Bobath Children's Therapy Centre, National Institute of Conductive Education (NICE) and Cerebra. Emerging players are Whizz-Kidz, KIDS and Newlife Foundation. Scope is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Stick 'n' Step have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stick 'n' Step.
What industry is Stick 'n' Step in?
Stick 'n' Step's product category is Disability Services and Specialist Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAG, Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction, with a secondary code of EDACAFAD, Physical Therapy (Early Intervention). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.