A SCHEME which has been helping children with special needs for 16 years in Worcestershire faces sudden closure after its main source of funding was pulled.

The Worcestershire Pre-School Learning Alliance's VIP Scheme, which started in 1991, offers guidance to parents and a network of volunteers, helping children with disabilities or illnesses to attend pre-school settings and day nurseries.

In June 2007, the scheme won the prestigious Queen's Award for Volunteering - only the second organisation in Worcestershire to ever receive it.

But the scheme is now facing closure after the Big Lottery scheme rejected the alliance's latest grant application totalling £500,000 over three years.

VIP Scheme manager Sue Heard said: "Funding for the scheme has come from a variety of sources over the years, with the main funding for the past six years coming from the Big Lottery.

"However, the Big Lottery receives more applications for support than it can meet and, on December 21, they notified the PLA that they would be allocating future funding elsewhere.

"As a result, the VIP Scheme faces closure at the end of January.

"Office staff were officially notified of redundancy before Christmas, but many have offered to work voluntarily if it will help to keep the scheme running."

A spokesman for the Big Lottery said it had received applications totalling £39 million in the latest round, but had just £10million to give away, therefore it was unable to help everyone.

The VIP Scheme helps the parents of around 75 children with special needs.

One-to-one help, if required, is also provided by the network of trained volunteers and means children with additional needs can usually take part in activities just like any other child.

It also offers assistance to over 200 pre-schools and day nurseries across Worcestershire.

The alliance, which is based in Bromsgrove, is now seeking about £6,000 to help keep its office going for another two months, while its seeks out other funding opportunities.

If you would like to offer assistance to support the continuation of the scheme, contact Sue Heard on 01527 880333 or email nita@worcspla.org.uk