FIFTY children and young people are waiting for places with a Worcestershire charity supporting families with children who have additional needs.
Malvern Special Families (MSF) currently supports 160 children and young people aged between five and 17, but says reducing its waiting list is its biggest priority.
The charity provides clubs and activities where children with disabilities and additional needs can spend time with others in a supported environment.
Chief executive Gareth Jones said some of those currently waiting could face a wait of a couple of years before getting a place.
He said: “Our biggest priority is to get our waiting list down. We have 50 on the waiting list at present and it can take a couple of years for these numbers to work through.”
“Of course, fundraising is always a priority. At present our focus is around our core cost and finding premises in Malvern.”
Mr Jones said MSF spends around £300,000 a year supporting families and needs to raise around £200,000 annually.
He added: “We get Children in Need funding, and the government gives us 30 per cent of what we need each year, so we have to raise 70 per cent of our funds.”
Malvern Hills District Council chairperson Cllr Beverley Nielsen heard about the pressures facing the charity during a visit to one of its clubs at Regency High School in Worcester.
She met young people aged between 11 and 17 taking part in Halloween activities.
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Sue Nottingham, play leader for the Regency clubs, has worked with MSF for more than 12 years.
She said: “My work is around providing safe, special happy spaces for our young people. We have a great team, and all our play workers are trained.”
Cllr Nielsen said: “It was such a great pleasure to meet some of the young people involved with the MSF network and wonderful to see them all enjoying themselves and having special time.”
“I applaud Gareth and the team for their fantastic fundraising efforts each year.”
