Government grants to reduce the 9% gap in volunteering in the UK, between disabled people and the rest of the population have been announced.

Amongst the grant recipient is Whizz Kidz, a children's charity in London.

It has received £5,000, which it will use to enable young disabled volunteers to volunteer, either in their headquarters (helping with fundraising, communications, and administration) or at Whizz Kids' wheelchair skills training schemes and Ambassador clubs.

Often disabled people are prevented from volunteering because of a lack of special equipment, inappropriate premises, the extra costs of travelling and need for support workers to provide physical and communications assistance.

Over £200,000 in grants has been given out to 55 organisations in London, the West Midlands and the North West to support disabled people who want to volunteer.

Supported by the Office for the Third Sector, Access to Volunteering Fund aims to increase the number of disabled volunteers by breaking down the barriers they currently face when wanting to volunteer.

Angela Smith, minister for the Office of the Third Sector, said: "Disabled people should not face barriers to volunteering. They should enjoy the same opportunities as anyone else. The Government is committed to breaking down the barriers which face disabled people who wish to help others."

Some of the other 55 grant recipients include:

• West Mercia Police in the West Midlands, which received a grant of £5,000. West Mercia Police currently supports disabled volunteers and are also part of a national drive to support disabled volunteers in all Police Forces in England and Wales.

• Diversity 103.5FM in the North-West, which received a grant of £3,828. Diversity is a community radio station and a YMCA project.

Access to Volunteering is a pilot project operating in three test areas: Greater London, West Midlands and the North West.

The Charities Aid Foundation is managing the grant process.

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