CARERS are appealing to the public for votes to help them

win cash to pay for disabled children to go swimming.

They want support to win the biggest possible slice of a

£500,000 funding pie which will be split up on the basis of an

online poll.

The carers work at the St James Centre in Malcolm Street,

Normanton, which has, for five years, provided weekly

activities for up to 80 disabled children.

But now the scheme, known as the Fun-abil8y Project, has run

out of funds to take them swimming.

Now organisers are hoping to land votes towards a bronze,

silver or gold donation from the Norwich Union Community Sports

Fund.

Janet Tristram, from the St James Centre, said: “We hope as

many people as possible will support this because the children

just love to swim and we want to be able to take them.”

Staff used to run weekly sessions at Gayton Swimming Pool in

Littleover until its closure and then at Lonsdale Pool at

Mickleover.

They provided transport, personal care, help in getting in

and out of the pool and support and encouragement in the water

to the youngsters.

If their project received enough votes for a bronze award,

it would receive £1,000.

That would enable 20 young disabled people to enjoy ten

sessions in the water.

A silver award is worth £12,500 (that would pay for 40 young

people to have 30 sessions each year for three years) and a

gold is worth £50,000 (that would mean a mobile hoist could be

bought to help severely disabled children to enjoy the

trips).

A total of £500,000 will be given to projects across the

country. The number of e-mail votes received by members of the

public determines the level of award received by any one group

or project.

Sam Sheppard, 13, is one of the youngsters who has enjoyed

swimming with the group. The teenager suffers from epilepsy and

a severe disability which causes him to function like a

five-year-old.

Mum Sharon Sheppard, 44, of Rochester Close, Alvaston, said:

“He has been going to the centre for just over a year and he

loves it. It helps to give him a sense of responsibility and

independence.

“He loves being in the water because it gives him the chance

to be like other children who are the same age as him.

“I think it is important for the children to have that sense

of independence, it makes them feel normal, almost.

“We just hope people log on to the website and vote for the

project so they can start swimming again.”

Tariq Mehboob, 37, of Molineux Street, Normanton, said his

12-year-old son, Usman, who suffers from severe learning

difficulties, also loved swimming with the group.

Mr Mehboob said: “I don't always get the chance to take him

myself so when he gets to go with the centre, I know he really,

really loves it.''

Tanya Veingard, head of sponsorship at Norwich Union, said:

“The aim of this scheme is to make it easier for local

communities to take control and help increase sporting

participation and opportunity across the UK.”

Supporters can register votes until September 14 at

www.joinourteam.com.

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