A charity that provides clubs and play schemes for children and young people with disabilities has been awarded nearly £120,000 to support its work.

Malvern Special Families, which started in 1988 when a group of parents of children with special needs got together for mutual support while giving their children a chance to play together and socialise, is receiving the money from BBC Children in Need.

The charity, which has grown and now supports more than 100 families in Worcester and the Malvern Hills area, has been awarded £119,051 over three years to provide inclusive play opportunities for disabled children in the community. It already runs a number of clubs and play schemes for five to 19-year-olds at community centres and school venues in Worcester and Malvern.

The money will be used for a programme of child-focused support aiming to increase children's confidence, help them feel less isolated and prepare them so they are able to cope with challenges they may face in the future.

Maria Munday, manager at Malvern Special Families, said: "We’re delighted to have been awarded with this funding from BBC Children in Need. This grant will enable us to work with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community and make a positive difference to their lives.”

Melinda Connelly, BBC Children in Need Regional Head of the Central Region said: “We are delighted to be announcing additional funding in Worcestershire. All of our funding goes on to positively impact the lives of disadvantaged children and young people, and recently awarded projects like Malvern Special Families really will go on to change young lives in the area.”

Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “These grants would not have been possible had it not been for the incredible support shown across the UK in 2016. To everyone who fundraised and donated in 2016, thank you, the money raised really will go on to make a huge difference to children and young people throughout the UK who need it most.”

This latest boost of funding, from the charity’s Main Grants programme, brings the total currently invested in Worcestershire to more than £740,000.

In 2016 BBC Children in Need broke its fund-raising record by reaching the £60 million mark. The record-breaking total is the culmination of the efforts of every single person across the UK who supported the charity last year.

The money raised is going towards projects that work with children and young people who are affected by a range of disadvantages including homelessness, neglect, deprivation and poverty, serious illness or bereavement.

In the past year alone BBC Children in Need has helped more than 480,000 young lives in communities throughout the UK.

• BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 2,400 projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.

• All of the grants are targeted to areas across the UK where they will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people. BBC Children in Need funds two types of grants - the Small Grants Programme is for grants up to and including £10,000 to support projects for up to three years while the Main Grants Programme is for grants over £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years.