A WIRRAL charity helping children with cerebral palsy has been praised for creating good value for money in a new report.

The Social Return on Investment's report, published by Liverpool John Moores University, found that for every £1 spent by Stick 'n' Step, £4.89 of social value was created.

The research, based on 70 people benefiting from the Wallasey-based charity, found it created more than £1.5 million of social value last year, in return for an annual investment of £300,000.

The organisation provides free conductive education and support services for 70 children with cerebral palsy and their families.

Conductive education is a non-medical based developmental aid, which helps young people learn new skills such as head control, moving around independently, sitting unaided, walking and more.

The report added that the SROI is not an actual representation of what has been spent, but is instead an insight into the holistic health and wellbeing benefits that are gained.

It concluded that the benefits experienced by those who attend Stick 'n' Step have a much wider impact that resonates outside of the charity and into the wider community.

The SROI's report said: "Many of the children, parents and staff at Stick 'n' Step reported that being involved with the charity had been life changing.

"Many young people added that without Stick 'n' Step they would be unable to walk, which was a key factor in them gaining independence, and non-reliance on their parents."

Sarah Smithson, the charity's operations manager, said: “We receive no government funding and so we rely entirely on the generosity of community fundraisers and grants to allow us provide our service for free to the families that attend.

"More often than not, it is the people of Merseyside that contribute the heaviest towards fundraising for us and we are always so grateful for their dedication to our cause.

"This report is a fantastic way of showing our loyal supporters that their money really is making a huge difference and is positively impacting those who attend and the wider community too.”