A RALLYING call for votes has been issued by the founder of a Malvern-based charity which supports children and families with special needs in a bid to secure a grant close to £50,000.
Kim Philpotts, who set up What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful (WMYDMYB), is asking for a show of support as the charity hopes to receive the £49,470 funding as part of ITV’s People’s Project.
After a long six months, Howsell Road-based WMYDMYB are at the final stage of the scheme which gives the public a say in awarding National Lottery funding to local projects across the UK.
WMYDMYB are one of five projects in the Central West section of the People’s Project who are hoping to secure much-needed funds.
Only three of the five nominees will be awarded the money.
With the money, Kim, who works full-time as a nurse practitioner in Stourport, hopes to launch an outreach service.
She said: “After lots of feedback from families, they felt an outreach service would be a fantastic way of providing care.
“Families would receive a support worker and play therapist as well as a goodie pack with some sensory equipment and books on their child’s condition or disability.
“This would help reduce isolation and support parent carers on their journey.
“I know first hand what a lonely journey that can be with very little support so I fought day in, day out so that my son would be happy and enjoy all aspects of school life.”
Kim founded WMYDMYB in 2013 after finding out there was a lack of support networks which could help with ‘complex problems’ after her son, Archie, was born with brain injuries.
The charity moved to Howsell Road in 2015 and has gone from strength to strength but Kim told the Observer having an outreach service is the next step.
Kim added: “We really need the votes for this because without the money we can not set up the outreach service.
“Families need this kind of support, especially as mental health and special needs services are being cut all over the place across the country.”
To vote for WMYDMYB in the People’s Project visit http://bit.ly/2nZlhdz.
