Children’s charity appoints chairman
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RUNCORN charity Stick ‘n’ Step has appointed a new chair.
Rob Shorthouse, head of IT architecture at Co-op, has taken on the voluntary role, having been involved with a huge amount of fundraising and specialist corporate volunteering for the charity for many years.
Co-op has provided support to Stick ‘n’ Step in a variety of ways, with a corporate volunteering programme spearheaded by Mr Shorthouse.
In addition to providing a range of IT support, reviewing and training sessions around information security, management and data protection, Co-op volunteers have also given up their time to do DIY and gardening maintenance at the charity’s two centres in Runcorn and Wallasey.
Mr Shorthouse, a keen sportsman, has himself also helped organise and taken part in numerous golfing and cycling events to fundraise for the charity.
Earlier this year, Stick ‘n’ Step was also awarded a Co-op community fund, worth over £8,000 and the charity has also been Coop’s IT department’s Charity Of The Year.
Stick ‘n’ Step offers support services to children with cerebral palsy and their families.
The charity provides the children with totally free of charge conductive education sessions, allowing them to gain the skills they need to live independent lives.
Over 80 children, from across the region, attend these sessions weekly or twice weekly at the charity’s Wallasey and Runcorn centres.
Rob Shorthouse said: “I have enjoyed the fundraising and corporate volunteering with Stick ‘n’ Step enormously.
“The charity makes such a difference to the lives of the children that it helps, not to mention the support it provides to their families.
“I really welcome the opportunity now to take on a formal role to help steer the charity in its invaluable work.”
Commenting on the appointment of the new chair, chief executive of Stick ‘n’ Step Amy Couture said: “Rob has provided a fantastic level of support to us, working tirelessly to fundraise and provide corporate expertise which has helped us immeasur- ably.
“We are absolutely delighted that he has taken on the role.
“We are also very pleased to welcome two new trustees, Keith Jones and Alison James to strengthen the board and provide additional leadership, knowledge and support.”
To find out how to help fundraising or to access support from Stick ‘n’ Step, please call the Runcorn centre on 01928 573 777 or the Wallasey centre on 0151 638 0888.
For more information on the charity, visit www. sticknstep.org