A GROUP offering a fun activities and social opportunities to children with special needs and their families has been given financial support.

Danny’s Friends is an activity group for children of all ages, which meets meets fortnightly at Castleside Village Hall, near Consett, where youngsters enjoy arts and crafts, cooking sessions, sports and other fun activities.

Karbon Homes’ £1,000 grant from its community fund has helped the group purchase sensory, arts and sports equipment so they can expand their sessions as well as offer sibling sessions, giving them much-needed respite and the chance to make new friends.

Danny’s Friends was set up in June by parents Ian and Sarah Smith whose son, Danny, nine, has Fragile X Syndrome, which is a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment.

The group is run by volunteers who put all their energy into creating a fun, friendly and interactive environment for the children and their families.

Sarah Smith said: “My husband and I created Danny’s Friends so that families like ours have somewhere safe and fun to enjoy social opportunities together.

“This funding will make a huge difference to our families by allowing us to purchase some much needed equipment, and run six additional sibling sessions next year.”

Danny’s Friends meets on alternate Saturdays 10am-12pm in term time and every Wednesday 10am-12pm during school holidays.

Jessica Wray, community investment officer at Karbon Homes, said: “Danny’s Friends is a fantastic group made up of volunteers, friends and carers that provides social inclusion and opportunities for children with disabilities.

“Our funding will enable this group to thrive by providing additional resources and sessions which will benefit their siblings and extended families, giving them much needed respite and allowing them the opportunity to socialise with peers in a similar situation.

More families are welcome to join in with all the fun and can just turn up a session, or visit dannysfriends.co.uk or call 07940-204-120 for further information.