FUNDING of over £1m has been agreed to support children and young people with disabilities across Hampshire.

On Wednesday, Hampshire County Council agreed grants in excess of £1m for voluntary groups and charitable organisations to support them in Short Break activities for children with disabilities or additional needs.

The Short Break activity grants are awarded to organisations providing "safe, fun and interesting" activities outside school hours, for children and young people aged 0-17 years, who hold a Gateway Card and live in the Hampshire County Council local authority area.

Among the organisations to receive the grants were Solent Youth Action in Eastleigh, Let Us Play in Fareham, The Rose Road Association in the New Forest, and Integr8 Dance in Winchester.

Councillor Patricia Stallard, the County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services and Young People, said: “I am very pleased to agree the proposed 23-month grant programme which means that children with disabilities and additional needs, in Hampshire, can enjoy an activity, while their parents and carers have a break in the knowledge their children are having fun and are safe.

"We are very grateful to the charitable and voluntary sector for the diverse range of activities that they make available across Hampshire.”

Grant funding for May 1, 2021 – March 31, 2023 was prioritised for three types of activity; holiday clubs, weekend clubs and youth clubs, in response to feedback from children and young people with disabilities and their families, gathered between March and July last year.

As well as this funding, £35,000 is also set to be awarded to Hampshire Parent Carer Network for their "continued support for parents and carers of children with disabilities and additional needs".

A further £64,500 has been agreed for The Rose Road Association to continue provision of the Community Buddy Scheme and support for children and young people to access mainstream activities for a further six months.