A charity which supports hundreds of disabled people has launched an urgent appeal to safeguard its future.
The Percy Hedley Foundation has provided vital support and education for people with a range of disabilities in the North East for nearly 70 years.
Its services include several schools, residential and respite care for all ages and employability programs for disabled adults.
But the Covid-19 lockdown has forced the charity to cancel fundraising events and increased financial pressure on its donors.
Charity bosses say they've seen an immediate shortfall of £100,000, and the figure is only set to grow.
In a Go Fund Me page set up to help address the shortfall on Thursday, CEO Carole Harder said: "I'm asking you if you can help us safeguard one of the region's most loved and valued charities and make a donation to our urgent appeal by clicking the link below. With your support we can continue caring for disabled children, young people and adults now and in the future."
The appeal quickly raised more than £2,000, with many of those who donated praising the work the charity had done for them or a loved one.
One donor said: "The staff are wonderful, dedicated people doing a great job."
A Percy Hedley spokesperson thanked all those who had donated and said they had been "completely overwhelmed" by the response to the appeal.
The appeal will run until September, and with no clear date for the end to restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus, it's likely the fundraising events the charity relies on will be unable to go ahead for months to come.
"Any support you can give will means so much to us and the disabled people we care for here in the North East, now and in the future," the spokesperson added.
Donations to the appeal can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Percy-Hedley-Urgent-Appeal
