Vince Cable

Two greatly valued Saturday clubs for vulnerable children with learning difficulties and special educational needs are in imminent danger of closing as Richmond Crossroads Caring For Carers, the charity which operates the clubs, is meeting difficulty in obtaining secure funding of up to £25,000 per club.

The clubs are located in Hampton and Mortlake and take in 21 children at each aged 8 - 16 years. Pupils from Clarendon School attend the Hampton Club and there is a waiting list of children who want to go. Without the club these children have little chance of enjoying themselves at the weekend.

Hampton Club has run successfully for 7 years and without continued funding the club faces the real possibility of closure thus depriving these children of their own special club.

Mortlake Club has slightly more secure funding but the full costs have not yet been met.

Vincent Cable said: "it would be a tragedy for the families if either of these clubs were closed. The clubs are the nearest some of the children have to a social life and it also gives the families a break from managing what are often very demanding children. I have been to the Hampton club and it does brilliant work. I am writing to potential sources of funding but I hope that, by publicising the crisis, it may be possible to identify new sources of support."