A CHILDREN’S charity that feared for its future after learning its home in Thornbury would be destroyed has been saved by a businessman in Littleton.

Incredible Kids, which supports families of children with disabilities or life limiting conditions, was desperate to find a new home after it was told its temporary site in the former South Gloucestershire Council offices would be demolished to make way for retirement homes, leaving them only a few weeks to relocate.

But after hearing of the charity’s plight, Charlie Tull, managing director of Whale Wharf near Littleton-upon-Severn, offered to house the charity in the disused business park rent-free while they continue to look for a more permanent alternative.

With more than 400 children from across South Gloucestershire using the charity, as well as Cardiff and Portishead, they had looked as far as Yate and Patchway.

But with most of the staff and volunteers, being from Thornbury and Bradley Stoke, they said it was important that they remain in the area.

They will move into the new site at the end of the month, aiming to be up and running in early July.

“We were overwhelmed when the site was offered to us,” said the charity’s trustee Jennie Prewett.

“It is amazing that in such a short space of time we had found somewhere new which is even better than what we currently have.

“It means we can carry on with our sessions. The space is the same as we have here in Thornbury, which means we can set it up exactly the same.”

She added: "We are extremely grateful to Charlie for his generosity in offering us use of part of Whale Wharf to ensure that our families can continue to use our service whilst we make plans for a longer-term solution in the local area."

Dawn Harrison, a mother of three children with disabilities from Little Stoke, who visits the charity several times a week, told the Gazette how overjoyed she was by the news, saying her family “would be lost without it.”

She said: “Taking three children with special needs out for the day is a challenge, but coming here makes things so easy for us.”

Mr Tull said: “We have been aware of the excellent work that Incredible Kids do for families in South Gloucestershire and across the Bristol region.

“When I heard that they were looking for new premises, I thought Whale Wharf offered an ideal safe, local location for the charity.”

More information about Incredible Kids is available at www.incrediblekids.org.uk.