EVERYONE knows it’s a hard time to be a charity but here at the Percy Hedley Foundation we’re delighted to be in the running to secure £15,000 funding from the grant organisation, People’s Postcode Trust.

As the North-East’s leading disability charity we’re hoping, with the help of local businesses and the general public, to secure enough votes to win the £15,000 which will help us to continue to transform the lives of the disabled children, young people and adults who need our support.

We provide services to disabled people from across the North- East and it would be great if readers could take part in the free “Vote that Counts”

campaign.

The campaign was launched on October 29 and voters have until November 18 to cast their vote.

As well as the top prize of £15,000, a further £10,000 and £5,000 will be won by two runnerup charities.

To vote, simply visit votethatcounts.org where there is dedicated information on the campaign and the charities taking part.

We are trying to raise funds for two specific projects to enable our children, young people and adults to lead full and active lives.

Percy Hedley College, in Newcastle, needs to develop a sensory room for our students and our children’s residential service is in desperate need of a new minibus to allow our children to access the local community facilities outside of school hours.

By simply registering their free vote online, your readers can make sure that we are in with an excellent chance to win the £15,000 prize. We are up against a number of national charities, so it won’t be easy.

The charity with the highest number of votes on November 18 will secure the funding.

Ed Turner, Communications Officer, The Percy Hedley Foundation.