Hull Charity Given Lottery Lifeline

LOCAL charity Special Stars Foundation has been awarded a £480,447 lifeline from The National Lottery Community Fund, allowing it to continue for at least another three years.

The money will provide learning and social opportunities for people with various disabilities who struggle to access mainstream activities in their community.

It will also help parents and carers, delivering seminars and training courses to give them the skills they need to find the right provisions for the person they care for. The charity will also run regular support groups and advice sessions.

Special Stars was founded in October 2012 by Natalie Barnes, who is now its Charity Manager. Natalie has two sons with Autism and was frustrated by the lack of provisions for them, so set up a playgroup for children with special needs. That playgroup soon grew into a charity which has gone from strength to strength over the past 7 years, increasing the range of services so that disabled people of all ages and abilities can participate in activities.

The charity supports 1,442 families, including 4,233 individuals affected by disability. It receives around 10 new registrations every week.

Special Stars Foundation founder and Charity Manager, Natalie Barnes, said: “I was thrilled when I got the news. This is so important for all the charity’s service users. Without this money and would have had to drastically cut the services we provide to local disabled people. This will help us to move forward in new and innovative ways”.

To find out more about Special Stars Foundation, visit the website www.heyspecialstars.co.uk or contact us on 01482 227657 or info@heyspecialstars.co.uk