Trusts and Foundations Newsletter and Impact Report
Dear friends and supporters
Dear friends and supporters
In this newsletter, you’ll find highlights of our recent work, key successes, and a glimpse of what’s ahead. Your support remains at the heart of everything we do – thank you for being part of this journey.
Delivering impact across our services
Delivering impact across our services
a. Independent Specialist School: Our independent specialist school supported 45 children, aged 3 to 16, with cerebral palsy (CP) and other similar sensory motor disorders. This dedicated environment provides tailored education that fosters social, emotional, and academic development. In addition to the core curriculum, we prioritised enriching experiences beyond the classroom – running 63 educational and recreational trips throughout the year including visits to Whipsnade Zoo, Bowling, Sailing, Mead Open Farm, a Mosque, a Church and weekly hydrotherapy sessions. Each of these activities broaden learning, build confidence, and support social inclusion.
b. Child & Family Therapy Service: Our Child & Family Therapy Service provided advice, assessments, and 1,191 therapy sessions to 232 children, aged 0 to 18, and approximately 580 family members. In addition to supporting children with cerebral palsy (CP) and sensory-motor disorders, our therapy service has continued to expand, responding to a broader and increasingly complex range of needs. Over the past year, we have worked with children presenting with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) challenges, behavioural difficulties, and those experiencing school refusal.
c. Commissioned Therapy Services: Our commissioned therapy services, provided to three local special schools, supported around 428 children and young people with specialist occupational therapy and physiotherapy. These services played a crucial role in enhancing the physical and cognitive development of students with complex needs.
d. Digital Support Hub: Our free online advice and support service, delivered through our digital hub, continues to be a vital resource for families. Over the past year, the platform saw 17,774 active users and 55,044 page views, reflecting its growing reach and relevance. All content is shaped by the real needs and concerns of families, offering practical guidance, expert insights, and accessible resources. By providing trusted information at their fingertips, the hub empowers parents and carers to better understand and manage neurodisabilities – helping them feel more confident, informed, and supported in their daily lives.
New Partnerships
New Partnerships
We’re also pleased to have renewed our relationship with the Garfield Weston Foundation, whose previous funding ran from 2020 to 2023. Their renewed support reflects a strong, ongoing commitment to our mission and the families we serve. Together, these developments highlight the power of long-term collaboration in advancing our mission and ensuring stability for the families we support.
Community, Creativity and Progress
The BIG Walk 2025
The BIG Walk 2025
The BIG Walk 2025: Our annual BIG Walk took place on Saturday 10th May where we returned to the 2019 route starting at Dunstable Downs and following the Icknield Way and Ridgeway Trails back to Wendover.
We focused on improving the Superhero Mile and received lots of positive feedback about the whole day.
Our fundraising total now stands at £14,000 and we have passed last year’s total.
Assistive Technology Loan Library and WheelPower
Assistive Technology Loan Library and WheelPower
This trial period is essential for ensuring the equipment is the right fit and can be tailored to the child’s needs. Families also receive guidance and training from our AT team, as well as access to discounted equipment, helping to improve affordability and long-term outcomes.
In June 2025, a group of our secondary students took part in the WheelPower National Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium – the birthplace of the Paralympics. They explored a wide range of adapted sports, including wheelchair basketball, boccia, and table tennis, supported by expert coaches. The event was an inspiring opportunity for our students to build confidence, develop new skills, and connect with peers in a fun, inclusive environment, a real highlight of their year!
Cooking Club
Cooking Club
Participation has been enthusiastic, and it is now a weekly highlight for many. The sessions provide an engaging and practical way for pupils to develop essential daily living skills such as blending, cutting, weighing, and mixing – activities that also support improvements in mobility, coordination, and hand-eye motor skills.
Spotlight on Family Impact: R’s journey with Pace
R was born with Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that can affect development. By 6 months, her parents noticed she was losing some motor skills and they weren’t getting the answers or support they needed. “We found Pace through a Google search,” her mum recalls. “We were looking for anything that could support R, alongside the NHS.”
Their journey began with Pace’s baby massage sessions. “It was a calm, gentle environment that helped me understand how babies experience their bodies. It was relaxing for both of us,” her mum says. But it also offered something more unexpected: peer connection. “Until I found Pace, I hadn’t met any other parents with children with disabilities. Sharing our hopes and worries was so supportive at a really uncertain time.”
The family went on to access regular therapy sessions – including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language, and Buzzy Bees early years groups. “We didn’t always meet the criteria for NHS services, so having Pace meant we could still get guidance and strategies to support R’s development. It helped with things like balance, strength, and fine motor skills – and gave us peace of mind.”
As R continued to thrive, she no longer needed regular sessions, but the family stayed connected through developmental assessments. “We’ve used the Bayley’s to track her progress. It’s helped us prepare for preschool and advocate for her needs – especially while we were waiting eight months for an NHS appointment.”
The emotional support has been just as valuable. “Pace is unique – supportive, non-judgmental, and empathetic. I’ll never forget when I first spoke to someone there and they asked how I was doing. No one had asked me that before, not even during all the hospital appointments. I still remember that moment, three years later.”
They’ve also attended coffee mornings and met other families, gaining practical advice and discovering new resources — including a charity for deaf children. “Peer support is so important, and having therapists on hand to chat with informally made a huge difference.”
Today, R is 3.5 years old and attends a mainstream nursery. She is running, jumping, climbing stairs, and thriving in her cognitive and language development.
Thanks to funders’ support, this family, like many others, has been able to access expert services they might not otherwise afford. “Everything we’ve accessed through Pace has been funded or subsidised – we simply wouldn’t have been able to afford this privately. I honestly don’t know what we’d have done without Pace. You’ve helped us get this far, and we’re so grateful.”
Parent Voices
Parent Voices
“The fact that all the services we have accessed have either been funded or subsidised is amazing… I honestly don’t know what we’d have done without Pace. R is thriving, and we can’t thank you enough.”
“Honestly, I think the service you provide is incredible, I can’t thank your team enough for their dedication, support and guidance, as well as their patience and understanding whilst I, as a parent, navigate through this and try to learn as much as possible.”
Our Vision for the Year ahead
Our Vision for the Year ahead
We are undertaking a comprehensive strategic review to ensure Pace remains responsive and resilient in a rapidly changing external environment. This process will help us strengthen our focus on quality, sustainability, and growth, positioning the charity to meet future needs while continuing to deliver high-impact services.
Strengthening Marketing and Communication
We are prioritising the development of more intentional, targeted, and measurable marketing and communications activity to raise the profile of Pace’s services, impact, and fundraising needs. By increasing visibility and engagement, we aim to reach more families, attract new supporters, and build long-term awareness of our work.
You make this possible
You make this possible
Together, we are creating a future where every child thrives.
Thank you for making a difference.