There's more fun in funding

By Tracey Sparling

SPORTS and social events for a group of disabled children are set for a cash boost.

Suffolk County Council is set to increase the grant it gives to Out and About under this year's budget by an extra £80,000.

The total amount will be £112,000 a year if the budget is agreed on February 26.

Out and About provides sports, games and social events for local children with various disabilities. It operates in Ipswich, mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal areas, and some parts of Babergh and St Edmundsbury.

It has supported more than 170 disabled children and young people and their families since last April.

Suffolk County Council executive member, councillor David Rowe, said: "We are delighted to be able to help, through our social care budget, with the excellent work of Out and About.

"Having fun, playing games and spending time with friends is vital for all of us, but disabled children often need a bit of extra support to take part in the same activities as other young people.

"Out and About is a brilliant organisation, doing great things with limited money.

"Council tax payers in Suffolk can take great pride that every single one of us is making our contribution to the lives of these young people."

Out and About director, David Renton, said: "This grant will make a significant contribution to the organisation's core costs and provide a level of longer-term stability for the organisation which it has never had in its 18 years of existence.

"It provides a foundation from which we will continue to seek to bring in further funds to extend and develop the service – building on our excellent track record in doing this."

However he said it did not answer all the group's funding needs.

Other work is currently funded by BBC Children in Need, and money still needs to be raised locally to maintain services.