Stepping Stones is looking for volunteers to join a fundraising committee after being inundated with offers of people wanting to hold events for them as part of the Give Us a Chance appeal.

Earlier this month, the Trowbridge charity, who serve the region’s children with learning difficulties and disabilities, lost £10,000 of funding from Wiltshire Council, after central government withdrew its Aiming High For Disabled Children grants.

This has left Stepping Stones, based in Broadcloth Lane, needing to raise £50,000 a year to survive and in response the Times launched the £10,000 Give Us a Chance campaign to make up some of the shortfall.

Teresa Blake, Stepping Stones’ fundraising and communications co-ordinator, said that the centre has received dozens offers of help from the public.

She said: “We’ve had people getting in touch wanting to hold a family fun day, cake sales, a group skydive and quizzes amongst other things.

“We are creating the committee because we know how difficult organising events can be so we want to provide some expertise to what has been put forward.

“Anyone with positive ideas and time to help is welcome to get involved.”

The deadline for people to declare an interest in joining the committee is February 28, then its first meeting will be organised.

Since the appeal launched the public have given around £300 to Stepping Stones. Despite the centre being on half-term break Ms Blake has been going into their base and picking up the campaign’s correspondence this week.

She said: “We have had lots of supportive letters and emails.

“So many in fact that there isn’t enough time in the day to get through them all.

“We’ve been really touched, especially by parents of children who we helped years ago contacting us and saying how good Stepping Stones were to them.”

Stepping Stones intends to put up a chart at the centre to show their progress as they fundraise towards the £10,000 target.

Anyone who wishes to join Stepping Stones’ committee can call 01225 350004, visit www. steppingstonestrowbridge.co.

uk or like their Facebook page by searching ‘Stepping Stones District Specialist Centre’.