A CHARITY supporting children is fighting to keep its doors open while facing a threat of forced closure over financial strain.

Rainbow Rogues provides services and advice for pre-school aged children with additional support needs and disabilities.

The Aberdeenshire-based charity has been assisting local families for 18 years.

The organisation runs free sessions to help identify each child’s individual needs and establish an appropriate play and learning setting.

These specialist services provide downtime to parents and carers and play a central role in easing the transition period for children joining school.

The Ellon-based charity is now appealing for help to keep the operation running.

Keri Craig, manager at Rainbow Rogues, said: “Rainbow Rogues acts as a vital link between families and educational, social, and health agencies, and we help our families navigate difficult funding, training and support landscapes.

“The families that use our services trust us, enabling our team to help them make informed decisions and tackle the challenges they face.

“Amid the cost of living crisis, it is difficult to ask for money, but we're asking you to please help us keep Rainbow Rogues open for those who need us.”

The charity receives no government or council funding and relies on donations and grants to carry out its work helping children and families.

Kim Stewart, family support worker at the charity, said: “We have real concerns for the families we work with should the respite we provide stop, and the multiple channels of support we provide are no longer available to them.”

Rainbow Rogues was established as part of the Surestart Initiative, after the needs of local families was highlighted in a community audit.

You can click here to donate to the charity's fundraiser.