A CHILDREN’S charity will save thousands of pounds on its energy bills thanks to the help of a an Ellesmere Port energy management company.

Independent energy consultancy Energycentric North West has been working with Stick’n’Step, which provides support to children and teenagers with cerebral palsy.

Energycentric North West, based in Ellesmere Port, has helped to significantly reduce the charity’s annual energy bills at its main Wallasey centre and charity shops in New Ferry and Formby, with the money saved each year allowing more children to use Stick’n’Step’s support services.

Stick ‘n’ Step provides free specialist conductive education and support services to children with cerebral palsy and their families and carers. The charity needs to raise £22,000 a month to cover all costs, with a place for one child for a year costing £3,500.

Sarah Smithson, operations manager at Stick’n’Step, said: “Energycentric North West consultant Laura Jones talked me through all of our options and stated that she was sure savings could be made over all three of our premises.

“The savings Laura presented were jaw-dropping, with a reduction on our electricity bills of a massive 28.7%, which worked out at a saving of £1,200 every year.

“This saving allows one of the six children currently on our waiting list to begin the learning sessions.”

Laura Jones said: “It really is a great feeling to provide a valuable cost-cutting service to charities and voluntary organisations.

“We were able to demonstrate how Energycentric could significantly reduce the charity’s energy bills by obtaining utility contracts at lower costs.

“Stick’n’Step are a charity I have particularly enjoyed working with – they provide such a valuable service to children and their families and being able to save them money, to invest back into supporting more children, is really rewarding.”