100 firms urged to back charity

5:25pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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LOCAL businesses are being urged to come forward to help support a children's charity.

Snappy, a York charity which helps children and adults with learning difficulties, is inviting local businesses in York to become part of Club 100.

The group is seeking 100 local businesses to step forward and offer £100 in annual donations to help with its costs.

Rob Emery, Club 100 administrator, said the assurance of continual funds would enable the charity to continue worthwhile projects such as the Saturday scheme for children aged between five and 19, "senior Snappy", which is held on Thursday evenings for people aged between 19 and 26, and summer and Easter schemes which are for children between the ages of five and 19 and run for two weeks through the Easter school holidays and for six weeks in the summer.

He said: "We are inviting businesses to become a member of Club 100. We are looking for 100 local York businesses to each pledge £1,000 or more annually to help support our charity. Snappy seeks to maximise the personal development and provide good quality play and recreational opportunities for children and young people with special needs in York.

"By becoming a member of Club 100, businesses will help run our projects and schemes, which are invaluable to both the children and the parents and having money, which we can count on, helps us to make the most of these provisions.

"Money that is kindly donated would allow us a budget to work from each year and would allow us to provide this service to the community without the worry of funding."

Mr Emery said the charity was also looking for businesses to support specific items, such as a much-needed mini-bus, Easter or summer play schemes, or a hardship fund for parents who could not afford attendance fees for their children.

"Snappy is always in need of funding and we are ever grateful for the funding we receive," he said.

Club 100 trustee Jim McGurn said: "Snappy is a very efficient and hard- working organisation which constantly struggles for operational funds. It is a very small local charity, with only 19 per cent of the annual running costs funded by City of York Council and does not have the fundraising resources of national charities.

"If this wealthy city cannot support such a worthwhile home grown charity then we are letting down our children with special needs, as well as the scores of dedicated Snappy volunteers who look after them."

To become part of Club 100, or to make a donation to the charity, phone 01904 640562 or visit www.snappyyork.co.uk