AN urgent appeal is being made for more volunteers to help improve the lives of families with disabled children.

Thirsk Community Care runs a ‘sitting service’ for the families of disabled children to receive regular respite from their caring to get some quality time with their partners or other children.

There are currently five families on a waiting list, each hoping to have someone spend time with their child once a month so that they can have break.

One family using the service explains: “The sitting service has been invaluable to my husband and I.

“It wasn’t possible to get an ordinary sitter so this service has been the best thing that has happened to us to make our family stronger.”

Volunteers would only be expected to spare one evening a month for the sitting service.

Anybody interested in volunteering can contact Jane Wilson at Jane.wilson@thirskcommunitycare.org.uk or 01845-523115.