A charity working with disabled people may have to cut activites and services unless they urgently recruit more volunteers.

Kith and Kids based in the Irish Centre in Pretoria Road, Tottenham, has been providing support and activities for people with learning difficulties and autism for a generation.

However this year they are facing a serious shortage of volunteers putting the services they provide at risk.

Projects coordinator Rob Walton said: “We are really struggling for volunteers to keep going, if we do not recruit another thirty to forty we may not even be able to function any more.

“There is an amazing community atmosphere here and it would be a shame to lose it, the work we do here helps so many.”

Founded more than forty years ago by two sets of parents in Tottenham the charity has grown into a vital service for parents and families of people with learning difficulties and has been awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee award for voluntary groups.

Mr Walton used to be an office manager in the property industry but gave up that job to volunteer at Kith and Kids; a move which he says has been rewarding and changed his life for the better.

He said: “There is so much satisfaction to be had working here, it does a lot for you personally.

“When people see or talk about disability there is often a negative connotation but it really doesn’t have to be like that.

“There is so much to be gained from working with us, the training is extremely varied and can do a lot for people looking for work or maybe a lifestyle change.

“I have made some life-long friends since coming here and it has really changed my life around.”

The charity is recruiting volunteers now and has a shortage of male participants in particular.

Justina Crewe, who’s son Alan regularly attends camp with Kith and Kids said: “Camp is the one time that my husband and I get to have a holiday of our own with our other son.

“We can give him our full attention and have a “normal” holiday together. I feel bad saying it, but that is the best way I can describe it – we don’t all have to fit in with Alan’s obsessions and demands, we can relax and do things together that would otherwise be impossible.”

Mary Longfield, also parent of a child in regular contact with the charity, said: "The Kith & Kids camp has been a life-line for us.

"The excellent level of individual support it offers makes us all feel safe and it’s the only extended time we can relax and recharge as a family.” 

Full training is provided and travel expenses are paid, you can find out more about getting involved with Kith and Kids here.