THE BBC’s Children in Need has awarded two grants worth £182,448 to two projects helping children in Brentwood.

The new funding will enable projects to provide services to young people in the area; this is the first funding allocation of the year, with additional funding to be allocated to projects across the UK throughout 2019.

One project which has been awarded funding is BOSP (Brighter Opportunities for Special People). It will use a three-year grant of £98,460 to provide specialist short break care and activities for children and young people with special needs.

Funding will provide support and respite for families and carers in the local area; by offering regular clubs during the weekends and during school holidays for children and young people aged four years and over with disabilities.

Special Needs and Parents has also benefitted in this latest round, receiving a three-year grant of £83,988 to provide a helping hand to families with pre-school children who have any special need or disability.

Funding will help guide children in a variety of ways including supporting their parents with face to face information and advice sessions and providing a variety of activities such as interactive music making, messy play, a multi-sensory room and a specialist IT suite.

Christina Stubbs, Director at Special Needs and Parents said: “We received funding from BBC Children in Need over 15 years ago, we are so pleased to get it again and we can’t wait to put the funds to work.

“Funding will support even more families by providing full guidance, encouragement and information so they can grow as a unit and become better equipped to support their children.”

Clare Cannock, Regional Head of South at BBC Children in Need said: “The public’s generosity towards BBC Children in Need never ceases to amaze me; the money donated means we can go on to fund projects that support children and young people.

“We want organisations in the local area that support children and young people to reach out to us about funding opportunities and tell us about new projects that will make a difference to the community.”

BBC Children in Need’s Chief Executive, Simon Antrobus said: “As always, thanks must go to our generous supporters and fundraisers - we are only able to make these much needed awards because of them.

“Each project will go on to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in communities across the UK who really do need our help, so thank you for making these grants possible.”