The National Lottery has awarded a children’s disability charity, KEEN London, almost £200,000.
The funding will be split between two of KEEN’s three sites, one of them in Herne Hill.
The £198,213 will support the delivery of the charity’s weekly one-to one supported sessions for children with additional needs and disabilities.
Debbie Holden, Director of KEEN, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players we have been able to open up our waiting list and offer more local children a place to be themselves.”
KEEN London, established in 2002, runs six sessions a week, attended by more than 100 children.
KEEN Club sessions are free and provide weekly games and activity sessions for disabled children aged from five to 12.
KEEN aims to build confidence in children, allowing them to improve communication and social skills, as well as providing a safe place for them to just have fun.
Maria, a KEEN London parent, said: “To feel a part of a community is a first with us.
“We are always welcomed with friendly smiles and I appreciate my child having a safe place to be himself, we are so pleased to know that more local families can benefit from this service as a result of this funding.”
As well as the KEEN Club, the charity runs a session twice monthly for children under five and their families.
The session, called Rising Stars, is for families who are concerned about their child’s needs to attend and chat with staff and other families in a safe and accessible environment.
The National Lottery Community Fund distributed over half a billion pounds last year thanks to National Lottery players.
To find out more about KEEN London, visit www.keenlondon.org.
