A youth club which was facing closure within weeks has been rescued thanks to a £15,000 grant from Hounslow Council.

Hounslow Phab runs activities for young people from across the borough, many of whom have disabilities, and has 180 members on its books.

But a severe shortage of funds meant the charity, which runs clubs at its base in Hounslow Youth Club, Kingsley Road, Hounslow, and at schools in Hounslow and Isleworth, had been fighting for its life.

Its future was secured last night, when Councillor Pritam Grewal, Hounslow Council's cabinet member for communications and communities, approved the recommendation from officers to award it £15,000.

The money comes from the council's 'stabilisation' fund, which was set up last summer to help struggling voluntary organisations in the borough stay afloat in this period of economic uncertainty and continue providing valuable services.

The Tasha Foundation, a Brentford-based charity supporting people affected by mental health problems or drug use, also received £5,000 from the £95,000 pot.

Hounslow Phab is a branch of the national charity Phab, which was set up in 1957 to encourage people of all abilities to get together.

Debbie Barnett, a youth worker with Hounslow Phab, said: "This means we can continue all the good work we're doing and our members now have the security their club's going to carry on.

"We were looking at closure at the end of March without this money. Things were getting very difficult for us financially. We had applied for lots of other grants but there's so much competition from other charities in a similar position."

Ms Barnett added that the grant represented roughly half its annual running costs and, while it would need to continue its fundraising, this meant it could 'take a breather' and focus on supporting young people.

Hounslow Phab runs after-school sessions at Hounslow Youth Club every Monday and Thursday, along with clubs at Lampton School, Hounslow, and Oaklands School in Isleworth. It also helps young people to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards.

For more about the charity, and to make a donation, visit hounslowphab.phab.org.uk or call 020 8572 8842.