A CHESTER charity that provides children with disabilities and additional needs a safe and fun place to play has received almost £175,000 in National Lottery funding.

SPACE has received the grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to support its recent growth, which has seen capacity in its sessions increase from 80% to 95% over the last 18 months.

It now supports as many as 650 children and their parents.

The sessions, which take place at SPACE’s centre on Grange Road near Chester city centre, include a large two storey play frame, an interactive sensory room, a versatile activity room, a changing room fitted with a hoist, a parent’s resource and lending library, and a family café.

Recent months have also seen the charity respond to the cost-of-living crisis by offering parents a wellbeing programme and free counselling sessions, which can now continue with the help of this new funding.

The grant will also help the charity to develop its new after school activity club, which currently takes care of 30 children and was launched last year to meet increased demand from parents, many of whom are having to work longer hours to meet current cost-of-living challenges.

SPACE was founded in 2014 by Jemma Gregory, a parent of a child with additional needs, who felt frustrated by the lack of appropriate play resources in the area with no support and advice available for parents and carers.

Jemma Gregory, charity manager at SPACE, said: “Our aim is to relieve the isolation experienced by families that have children with disabilities.

"The Covid-19 pandemic was a tough time for the families that access SPACE, with feelings of loneliness and isolation something that many of them experienced.

"It’s the whole reason SPACE exists, to try and alleviate these feelings and provide families with a space that is accessible, supportive and inclusive.

“Many of the families that we see were also plunged into debt during the pandemic, so it’s also important that they have a service that allows them to build their confidence and establish supportive friendship circles without having to worry about the cost.”

One parent who has benefitted from the play sessions is Nichola Sayer, along with her son Phoenix.

She said: “When I first visited SPACE, I received such a lovely warm welcome from the staff. I'm usually such an outgoing, confident person, but the situation I was in at the time made me feel so vulnerable and lost in where to go next with Phoenix.

“I’ll never forget being able to go to a place where people just understand, don’t judge, give you guidance and support, and overall make you feel completely safe. It's something I’ll forever be thankful for.”

Gillian Halliwell, head of regional funding for The National Lottery Community Fund in the North West, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local projects, this funding will make a big difference to people’s lives across Cheshire. We’re delighted that our funding is being used to strengthen communities and provide people with the tools and support they need to prosper and thrive.”