A disability charity in Hounslow has closed temporarily due to a lack of funding - just months after narrowly missing out on a top award.

WeAre1, which runs a social club three days a week for people with physical and learning disabilities, closed three weeks ago.

The charity, based at the Alf Chandler Centre, in Benson Close, Hounslow, had been shortlisted in the charity of the year category at the Hounslow Volunteer Awards in June, where it lost out to cancer charity The Mulberry Centre.

It was also runner-up in the excellence in the community category at the TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) southern awards in 2012.

Since being set up three years ago WeAre1 has relied almost entirely on fundraising and contributions from those attending, but co-founder Katrina Foreman said rising costs mean it needs about £20,000 a year to cover staff wages and volunteers' expenses if it is to reopen.

"We've never had any financial support from the council. The only outside funding we've ever had was £7,000 from the National Lottery in 2012/13," she said.

"We have about 200 people on our books and about 40 people come each day. Because so many other (mental health) services have closed there's nowhere to refer them."

WeAre1 was formed by Ms Foreman and Ronnie Doran in 2011 to fill the gap after the sudden closure of the Star Centre, the mental health charity in Hounslow where they both worked.

Ms Foreman said it had also taken the strain following the closure of other mental health services in the borough, including Canal House, in Brentford.

While Acton Lodge, also in Brentford, is due to reopen after a rebuild, she said it would now only take people with higher needs, meaning it will no longer not cater for those WeAre1 supports.

As well as providing a meeting place for people with disabilities, the charity ran a number of courses at the Alf Chandler Centre, including lessons in basic computer skills and building self esteem.

A council spokesman said it commissioned a number of services for people with mental health issues in the borough, focusing on integrating people within the community and helping them access mainstream services.

He said these included a day centre run by Hestia Housing and Support at the Market Place in Brentford from Monday to Friday, services offered by EACH at No 10 School Road, in Hounslow.

A full list of mental health services available in the borough is available here on the council's website.