Whoopsadaisy is a small charity helping children with cerebral palsy and similar motor disorders tackle the challenges of everyday life more independently. Based in Brighton, it is the only charity in East Sussex using 'Conductive Education' to help children build their physical, social and communication skills.
They start working with very young children (often around 6-12 months old), in Under-5's Groups. The children attend free Conductive Education sessions every week, with a parent or carer, and work hard towards big goals (such as learning to crawl, sit unaided, or eat and drink by themselves) with every step along the way boosting the children's (and the parents') confidence. The children make amazing progress and most are able to leave Whoopsadaisy to go on to mainstream school. This move in itself presents a whole new set of challenges in a busy and unfamiliar environment, so Whoopsadaisy also offer Holiday Clubs and Saturday sessions where older children can continue building their skills and confidence once they have started school.
From small beginnings working with two children in 2008, the Charity now helps more than 30 children every week and to cope with this has recently moved into the former Ladies' Bowls Pavilion in Preston Park, Brighton. In 2010 BWCF awarded Whoopsadaisy its first-ever 3 year grant, which helped children in the Under-5's Groups build their independence and also helped the Charity build its long-term sustainability. The BWCF Trustees have recently awarded another 3 year grant which will help many more children with physical disabilities reach their full potential.