Boost for charity as ‘beary’ special visitor drops by

Adur Special Needs Project has been changing the lives of children and young people with special needs for more than 20 years, helping those aged five to 18 living in Shoreham, Lancing and Worthing.

Administrator Yvonne McKeown said: “As with many small charities, Adur Special Needs Project relies very heavily on donations and funding from outside organisations in order to maintain their valuable service to members and their families.”

One of the key contributors has been BBC’s Children in Need, which granted a three-year programme of funding to the charity in 2012.

To mark the link, mascot Pudsey Bear popped in to visit the weekend play scheme st Glebelands Day Centre, Middle Road, Shoreham.

Supervisor Ricky Dagnell said: “The children’s faces lit up with amazement and joy when they saw Pudsey Bear. They didn’t know that Pudsey was going to drop in that day, so it was an amazing surprise for them.”

Thanks to the scheme, while the youngsters enjoy fun, stimulating and challenging activities in a safe and caring environment, their families benefit from valuable respite.

Pam Bacon, regional officer for BBC’s Children in Need, based in Southampton, joined Pudsey for the visit to find out more.

Mr Dagnell said: “We are hugely grateful to Children in Need for the money and help that they have given us over the past two and a half years.

“We hope to secure further funding from them in the future. Raising sufficient income to run a project like ours is never easy and we need money not only to give the children a great time, but to cover our overheads as well. We are immensely grateful for any support that we receive.”

The project is based at Adur Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham. Email [email protected] or telephone 01273 441866.