Demand for charity supporting disabled kids up 900%

Demand for the charity's services has risen dramatically in recent years

A charity helping families with disabled children says it may need to find larger base to accommodate a huge rise in demand.

Allsorts, which is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was set up by a group of parent carers 15 years ago.

But it says its membership has grown by 585% and attendance at activities by 895% in the last six years alone.

Currently based in Brunel Mall in the town, chief executive Jane Jones says the aim is to move in the next five years.

She told the BBC the charity would "love" to move to a bigger premises as their current home "will only take a small number of families at a time".

"Our families also tell us that they would really like some outdoor space which we don't have at the moment," she said.

"The amount of attendances that we have at activities are at an all-time high, but in many ways it's also very challenging keeping up with demand and making sure that we we still work very individually with families, as well as providing a wide range of activities."

The charity has supported families in Gloucestershire for 15 years

The charity puts on a huge range of different sessions for families, ranging from regular sports clubs to nature walks and play sessions.

They also run a full calendar of events out and about in the local area, with a boat trip, a "Lidl Mudder" (a children's version of the Tough Mudder course) experience and an accessible sailing session.

Charlotte said the charity gave her "a community she can relate to"

Charlotte, 13, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and a scoliosis, started attending sessions with the charity when she was three.

"When I was seven, I started doing PT with the wonderful sports team they have there, and I still do it to this day," she said

"Allsorts has empowered me socially by giving me a community that I can relate to and a safe place to talk about the pros and cons of having a disability.

"Physically it has been able to keep me as fit as possible in a fun and engaging way, as well as building strong friendships with the people that attend the clubs."