A VITAL charity providing help and support for children with addition needs is under threat.

The Dorchester Opportunity Group is facing an uncertain future due to funding cuts but a dedicated worker at the pre-school will be going to extreme heights to support the group.

Chelsea Randall has worked at The Dorchester Opportunity Group for the past eight years.

On Saturday, July 8 she will be taking to the skies to dive from 10,000 ft in efforts to raise awareness of the group and vital funds.

Chelsea said: “A 10,000 ft skydive at 125mph seems scary – and for it is more than petrifying.

“But I’m doing it to raise awareness of the most amazing little pre-school I work at – The Dorchester Opportunity Group.

“Unfortunately it is in danger due to funding cuts, and for me and many families this would be heart-breaking to see.

“As well as raising awareness I am hoping to raise some money to help with the situation of the group.

“I have worked at the pre-school for eight years and I would like to be able to do something big to be able to help this wonderful place.

“The rewarding feeling I get from knowing the difference the group makes to the children’s lives is pretty amazing.”

The Dorchester Opportunity Group, based at the Prince of Wales Pre-school Centre, is a charity-run pre-school for children with addition needs such as speech and language delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as more complex special needs.

Many children are yet to be diagnosed but show delays in their development from a young age so are therefore referred to the group by medical professionals, health visitors, speech therapists or children’s services.

Staff support children in accessing a wide range of play-based activities in a safe and stimulating environment where they learn vital skills to enable them interact positively and communicate effectively with other people.

Developing such skills it helps to reduce frustration and associated challenging behaviour.

This in turn has a massive impact on family life at home.

The group costs in excess of £100,000 a year to run so relies heavily on dedicated fundraisers and community grants to top up the statutory funding received from the local authority to enable the service to continue.

Chelsea added: “Children and their families benefit greatly from being at the group which in turn leads to a smoother, more successful transition into school.”

To donate to Chelsea's cause visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chelsea-randall