Weekly youth groups for children with disabilities put on by a Sunderland charity are set to continue thanks to new funding from a regional employer.
Grace House holds two after-school youth groups three days a week at its Bardolph Drive headquarters which provide young people aged between 10 and 18 with the chance to spend time together and try a variety of different activities, including pool, table tennis, cookery and gaming.
The existing funding for the youth groups was due to run out early in the new year – but now, a £5,000 grant from family-owned property and mining firm the Banks Group is going to allow them to continue.
Grace House, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, aims to support and inspire disabled children, young people and their families by helping them to manage challenges and enjoy the benefits of playing a full part in society.
It works with disabled children and young people up to 18 years old, and was originally established after a huge community fundraising drive by North East broadcaster Kathy Secker, who wanted local children “to have an amazing place where they can come to laugh, learn and live life to the full.”
The charity has around 700 families on its books, with people able to self-refer if they need help, and runs a wide range of other services including pre-school groups, counselling services, therapeutic activities, work experience and independent life skills coaching for young people.
It also has an accessible, therapeutic garden including a sensory play area which can be used by the members of its youth groups.
Victoria Brown, chief executive at Grace House, says: “Our children and young people have a range of physical disabilities and neuro-divergencies, and we try to shape the services we provide to best meet the individual needs of each person.
“Our youth groups provide a fun, safe place where children and young people can meet or make friends and try a variety of different activities with whatever support they need from our expert staff.
“We see, on a weekly basis, just how much these groups help to build the confidence of their members, how much they all enjoy the different opportunities that we provide and how their communications skills can improve along the way.
“With the funding for this project coming to an end, it would have been much harder for us to keep delivering what is a very important part of our service, so we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for helping us to keep doing so.”
Lucy Hinds, executive assistant at the Banks Group, adds: “Grace House has been making a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of North East children with disabilities and their families for more than two decades, and continues to lead the way in helping them all live the fullest possible lives.”