"IT'S nice to know he can have a social life in the school holidays like other young people in Warrington."

Those are the words of Grappenhall mum Joanne Freeman who says her 13-year-old son Raj has grown in confidence and improved his social skills since first attending disabilities play scheme Playability four years ago.

The charity, which runs a school holiday group at the Hawthorn Centre in Orford, provides respite care for parents and carers of children and young people with severe learning disabilities so carers can have time to do things like shopping, spend time with other siblings or just have a break.

Children from aged 5 to 19 with a variety of learning disabilities join in with the activities including art and crafts, cooking, music and reading while making new friends.

Something which Joanne has found makes a big difference to Raj's life.

She added: "Raj has severe learning difficulties and hasn't got the skills to make friends without support from others.

"The group has given him that opportunity and he really looks forward to going."

Hard-working volunteers and staff also run a Saturday afternoon swimming club at Woolston Hub, dance club on Wednesday evenings and in the future hope to re-start a Saturday morning club for five to 11-year-olds which closed earlier this year due to mounting losses.

Russell Booth, from the charity, added: "Although we are part funded by Warrington Borough Council we have not been immune to budget constraints over the past three years during which time our funding has remained static while we have been asked to increase our services.

"Fundraising like all charities is a big issue for Playability and we are grateful for everyone's funding and fundraising efforts of the last twelve months.

"If we had more funding, we could help to change the lives of many more families in Warrington."

To support the cause or become a volunteer e-mail hello@play-ability.org or phone 493838.