A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been set up to try and save a west Cumbrian charity which has been vital in supporting disabled people across west Cumbria.

Kelly Stewart has started a fundraiser for the Allerdale Disability Association (ADA) after her fiancé Nick Wilson, a service user of the charity, received a call last week to say the organisation would be closing down due to lack of funding.

Nick, who has autism as well as a number of learning difficulties and complex health conditions, has been receiving support from the charity for a number of years.

The charity has supported Nick with access to things like personal independence payments, which he says have given him an 'incredible amount' - such as access to exercise classes, education courses and 'accessible self improvement services' - with ADA staff helping him to read through and process literature which would have otherwise been a 'barrier' to him receiving the support he needs.

He said: "I received a phone call last Wednesday to say they were shredding paperwork and closing. They mentioned it was due to lack of funding. It was just gobsmacking.

"The reason I felt so confident with the Allerdale Disability Association throughout all the processes is because when I went there I didn't have to explain myself. I didn't have to lay myself bare and be scrutinised.

"They have an understanding of various processes so that you don't have to be completely understanding of them all. It was very comforting through it all, especially throughout a process that expects you to be a self advocate - that expects you to be a complete expert in each field."

Kelly has said that she decided to start the fundraiser after going into 'a very instantaneous numb panic' after hearing the phone call Nick received to say he was no longer receiving his advocacy due to 'lack of funding'.

She said: "I'm just really hopeful that the more that we can spread the message around how much of an impact the Allerdale Disability Association has and try to also show that there is an easy way for people to help them through the GoFundMe, we can try and help them build enough momentum to stay open."

The fundraising page has been running for the last week and so far raised £250 to support the organisation, you can contribute here.

In a statement on their website, the Allerdale Disability Association said: "ADA has faced a number of financial challenges and unfortunately is no longer able to continue offering services to disabled people.

"The board of trustees have made the difficult decision to call an Emergency General Meeting on November 13 at 11am, the only business on the agenda is a motion to wind up ADA."

The charity has been approached for further comment on the situation.