THE LORD-LIEUTENANT of Dorset has thrown his weight behind a campaign to help local disabled children.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, is supporting a recently launched appeal by charity Newlife, to provide specialist equipment for children with disabilities in the county.

The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is the UK’s largest charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness. It has set up the Newlife Dorset Fund specifically to support local families.

Currently there are seven children in Dorset in need of specialist equipment that will really change their lives.

The charity states that every penny donated or fundraised in Dorset is guaranteed to support vulnerable families in the county.

Special disability equipment provided through the charity includes wheelchairs, walkers, beds, seating and communication aids can help give children independence, keep them safe, relieve pain and overcome challenges.

Eighty-six children in Dorset have already been supported through equipment grants and loans totalling more than £112,000.

Mr Campbell is the Queen’s official representative in Dorset. He said the charity was definitely worthy of support.

He added: “Newlife Foundation is a national organisation that does extremely valuable work in support of young people in Dorset and undertakes to spend all money raised in a county on those in need within that county.

“Furthermore, they promise that not one penny of local money raised is taken out of that pot to fund admin costs. This is a foundation that is clearly worthy of support.”

A spokesman for the charity said they could give families and individuals wanting to support them help with fundraising ideas or ideas for a sporting event.

The spokesman said: “Statutory services in Dorset often have a responsibility to make equipment provision – but when this is not possible, Newlife steps in with a range of grant and loan services.

“We do this with the support of front-line health professionals across Dorset who have helped Newlife help local children in real need.”

He added: “The Newlife Dorset Fund will support equipment provision for under-19s facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness.”

To find out more visit newlifecharity.co.uk/Dorset, call 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk.