A LITTLE boy is now able make the most of his time at nursery thanks to new equipment to help him stand and walk.

Three-year-old Noah Tilson, from Green Hammerton, has cerebral palsy that affects the use of his legs and, to a lesser extent, his arms.

He was donated the specialist disability equipment by the children's charity Newlife.

Noah is delighted with the equipment which, as well as giving him greater freedom, will improve his muscle tone and aid circulation and digestion.

Sasha, Noah's mum, said: “It has been a significant benefit to Noah now has the equipment he needs in pre-school, because our experience is that we have had to fight for every bit of support for him. These items help him integrate at playtime and mean he gets so much more enjoyment from his early learning experience.

“We have had a real problem getting equipment because Noah is in the lull before school age. He started at the local pre-school nursery in January, but the local authority wouldn’t supply any equipment to support Noah in school.

"This was despite the fact that his occupational therapist and physiotherapist said he really needed a standing frame and walker so he could go out with the other children and move around at playtime.

“Fortunately, one of the specialists I talked to told me to look on the website for Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.”

Newlife provides equipment through grants and loans, supporting many hundreds of families each year. In addition, it offers refurbished equipment through its innovative service Newlifeable.

The charity said that as many as 250,000 disabled children in the UK currently do not have the vital equipment they need for everyday life – but it estimates there is £90million of disability equipment currently sitting, unused, in individual local authority stores.

There are11 disabled and terminally ill children in North Yorkshire who need help to get the specialist equipment that will really change their lives, the charity has said.

To address the need, the charity has set up the Newlife North Yorkshire Fund – www.newlifecharity.co.uk/northyorkshire