Heel and Toe charity supported by Co-op Local Community Fund

Heel & Toe, based in Pelton near the Drum Industrial Estate, will use the funds to support its Hippotherapy project.

Hippotherapy is the use of horse riding as a therapeutic treatment. The aim is to improve function, gait, and balance. The Hippotherapy is delivered in partnership with Washington Riding Centre, where the sessions are held.

Mandy Hammond, Community Fundraiser at Heel and Toe, said: “This donation from the Co-op will allow more disabled children to access hippotherapy. It’s a unique service for children and their families to benefit from therapy and physical activity. Our clinical lead is one of few professional therapists specially trained in delivering hippotherapy to children in the UK; this is a new and innovative service for our region.”

Other therapies provided by Heel and Toe includes conductive education, massage therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy from the charity’s main centre in Pelton. Its second therapy centre is a hydrotherapy pool, based in Perkinsville.

Mandy concluded: “We don’t receive any government funding and need to raise £1,000,000 every year so all donations are gratefully received. We support over 220 local children every week who come to us for therapy from all areas of the North East.

“The more people who pick us to support, the more funds we receive for our project.”

Find out more and support this project.