SUPPORT for sufferers of ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - and their families will soon be on offer at an after-school club.

Funding of £20,000 from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will enable Winsford-based charity Toc H to start the club as soon as staff have been put in place.

Money from NOF can only be used to fund salaries for the after-school club, so additional cash has been raised from trusts to fund the venue and equipment.

Chris Duncan, the development officer at Toc H and a member of the ADHD strategy group formed nearly three years ago, said there is a gap in services offered for people dealing with ADHD either as a sufferer or a family.

Toc H acts as the group leader and uses its charity status to bring in revenue for the group, which includes key parties such as Social Services, youth services, Connexions and parents.

Chris said: 'It is hard for people with ADHD to concentrate or they have a limited concentration. A lot of young people can't cope with new situations that make them feel quite anxious.

'In 2000 a group of professionals in the area realised there was not much to support people with ADHD, who are seen as having naughty behaviour and are excluded from schools. This small group of people formed the strategy group.'

The group organised summer camps in 2002 and 2003, giving parents a well-deserved break and adding much-needed structure to the summer holidays to youngsters with ADHD. As many as 40 families from Northwich and Winsford benefited from the scheme, which operated in both towns.

Children were able to take part in activities from arts and craft workshops to team games and individual sports in 20-minute sessions.

The short time span means the activities keep the children occupied and the structure and objectives of each session let them know what is expected of them.

The success of the summer camp is being developed by providing an after-school club.

Chris added: 'We started thinking what we could be offering in between the summer holidays and we have now secured funding for our after-school club.'

The group will shortly appoint a club co-ordinator, who will also work with parents, setting up training for them about how to deal with the problems faced. Training and guidance will also be on offer for young people with ADHD.

Staff at Toc H, based in Castle Court, Winsford, are hoping the cash boost will help them to secure the future of the summer camps.

Cath Helsby, administrative assistant at Toc H, said: 'We have only got a small amount of funding for the summer camps this year. It is hard to sustain the funding over time, but people shouldn't be worried. We are just going to have to be a bit creative with what money we have - maybe only doing a couple of days a week instead of five.'

An ADHD parent support group will start on Thursday, April 29, at Toc H, Castle Court, off Nat Lane, Winsford, at 1pm. It is to help parents of children diagnosed with ADHD or about to be diagnosed, and for parents of children with associated disorders.