'Our charity must raise £240k to survive'

The charity relies solely on donations and grant funding

A Shropshire support charity has said it needs to raise £240,000 by the end of the year to save it from closure.

Shropshire Person Centred Advocacy and Support (PCAS) supports disabled and vulnerable adults across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and has been running for more than 30 years.

Bosses said rising demand and limited funding had pushed it to "breaking point", and appealed to businesses and the public to help with raising money.

"What we do is a lifeline, it's plain and simple - people couldn't function without it," said its founder and manager, Simon Arthur.

"But if we don't raise enough money by December, we'll have no choice but to shut down.

"That will leave many of the most vulnerable people in our community completely without support."

The Oswestry-based charity said it had already had to temporarily close its doors four times in the last two years due to an increase in need.

It supports clients through issues including housing problems, safeguarding, social care access and health issues.

The organisation does not recieve statutory funding and relies on fundraising, grants and donations.

Staff are asking for donations from the public and businesses, whether that be one-off amounts or partnerships, to try and meet the target they need.

"We work with the people who fall through the cracks, the ones who don't meet the criteria for other services," said Mr Arthur.

"If we close, they will be left with no one.

"We've been part of this community for over three decades, we're asking Shropshire to help us keep going."