Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy

The Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy (FPO) is a UK-registered charitable organisation dedicated to specialist osteopathic care, education, and research focused on children and families. Operating under charity number 1003934, the Foundation’s mission encompasses making osteopathy accessible to all children and families, training skilled paediatric osteopaths, conducting research to establish the effectiveness of paediatric osteopathic treatments, and providing holistic osteopathic care.

History and Mission

Established in 1991, the Foundation aims to provide osteopathic treatment for all children regardless of their families' ability to pay. A core belief of the Foundation is that many childhood ailments, whether minor or significant, stem from imbalances within the body, and that gentle osteopathic techniques can restore balance and promote overall health and wellbeing. Their approach is holistic, centred around kindness, empathy, and offering care tailored specifically to infants, children, teenagers, as well as pregnant and post-natal women (with up to six treatments).

Services and Clinical Work

The clinical arm of the Foundation is known as the Osteopathic Centre for Children (OCC), which operates dedicated paediatric clinics providing osteopathic treatment to children up to 18 years old, as well as pregnant and post-natal women. These services are offered on a "donate-what-you-can" basis, ensuring accessibility regardless of financial circumstances. Skilled osteopaths, many of whom volunteer their time, provide treatment with a focus on restoring and supporting health through gentle manual therapies.

Education and Training

The Foundation is committed to training graduate osteopaths in the rigorous specialism of paediatric osteopathy. Their educational programmes are designed to develop highly skilled practitioners who understand the unique needs of children and families, helping to raise standards in paediatric osteopathic practice across the UK.

Research

Addressing the evidence gap in osteopathic care for children, the Foundation operates a comprehensive research programme. This includes retrospective studies based on clinical data collected over multiple years with the goal of publishing results that demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of paediatric osteopathy for a wide range of childhood disorders. These efforts contribute to building a scientific foundation for the practice and improving treatment outcomes.

Governance and Policies

The Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy is registered as a charitable company and complies with all regulatory requirements, including charity reporting and governance standards. It maintains robust policies covering safeguarding, financial controls, risk management, volunteer management, and complaints handling to ensure high standards of operation and protection for vulnerable beneficiaries.

Summary

The Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy stands as a centre of excellence in paediatric osteopathic care, education, and research within the UK. By combining clinical services, professional training, and evidence-based research, it seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families through accessible, compassionate osteopathic care.

Charity number: 1003934

[1] https://www.occ-fpo.org.uk/who-we-are/ [2] https://www.occ-fpo.org.uk/foundation-for-paediatric-osteopathy-research/ [3] https://www.snapcharity.org/business-directory/3990/foundation-for-paediatric-osteopathy/ [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1003934 [5] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1003934/governance