A support service for children with cerebral palsy is set to receive nearly £450,000 lottery cash boost.

Bobath Scotland is amongst 10 groups sharing in the £5m Big Lottery Fund money announced last Thursday (18 June).

The service supports 125 young children with permanent movement disorders across Scotland and families, like Susan Love and her seven-year-old son Lachlan from Alloa, will have access to a knowledge bank, an online diary project and online support in the form of “webinars” and Skype sessions to help the complex transition from nursery to mainstream school.

Susan, who has been receiving support from Bobath for five years now, said: “I know making the transition from nursery to school is a period of real change and families really worry about it.

“Lachlan has complex issues and we’ve had an excellent experience moving him from nursery to mainstream school. Bobath have really helped with the process.

“The best thing about Bobath is the time and attention that is devoted to thinking about individual solutions for your child. I’m delighted that they have received this lottery money to help many more families like ours.” Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood with varied signs and symptoms between people. Problems often include poor coordination, stiff or weak muscles, trouble swallowing or speaking and tremors among others.

Difficulty with the ability to think or reason as well as seizures occur in around a third of cases and there may also be problems with sensation, vision or hearing. Babies with CP often do not roll over, sit, crawl or walk as early as other children their age.

CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance and posture and most often issues occur during pregnancy. Around two per cent of cases are believed to be due to an inherited genetic cause.

Stephanie Fraser, Bobath Scotland chief executive, added: “This is the best news we could have hoped for.

“Bobath Scotland Cerebral Palsy Therapy Centre seeks to help people from all over Scotland living with cerebral palsy at key stages in their lives.

“The grant towards the Right Start project allows us to develop services strategically for this vital transition stage and enables us to support families in areas other than just those within reach of our centre in Glasgow. We can’t wait to get started!”