COMEDIAN Joe Lycett was in Dudley this week to see how Comic Relief funding is supporting children in the borough.

Joe, who presented sections of the BBC telethon show on Friday night, paid a visit to Sycamore Adventure, which has been given more than £1,000 by the charity to purchase go-karts.

Set in two acres of land, the Old Park Farm Estate-based centre gives children from Dudley and the Black Country the gift of carefree play offering everything from trampolines and treehouses to an indoor play barn and sensory room.

The centre is open for public sessions for free - or for a small donation – and was accessed by 23,000 people last year including children with disabilities and families from poverty stricken backgrounds.

Birmingham-born Joe told the News: “Being from the West Midlands, I wanted to see the work that happens locally which Comic Relief supports.

“I have to say how impressed I am by the facilities and the staff. You can really see how much these children are enjoying themselves.

“It’s a fantastic project, the local families are lucky to have somewhere that they can come, escape and just be themselves. I just wish there was something like this when I was a kid.”

During his time in Dudley, Joe spoke to a number of families who use the centre, as well as testing out the go-karts which Comic Relief funded.

The stand-up added: “Playing on the go-karts was genuinely some of the most fun I have ever had!”

The wide range of activities on offer for visitors to the centre allows them to enjoy experiences that might not otherwise be available for them, as well as keeps children active and develop their social and practical skills.

Keith Rogers, play service manager at Sycamore Adventure, said: “It was great having Joe here today to see the work we do to help children not just from Dudley borough, but the wider West Midlands.

“Even though we had 23,000 people here in the last year, there are still a lot of people who aren’t aware of us. We hope this will let more people know what facilities are right here in Dudley.

“A lot of the families that come here are from some of the most deprived areas in the borough who can’t afford to take their children on holiday, so we see the centre as a way of giving the children a break.”

The centre has recently lost its corporate sponsor of six years, meaning it will have to continue operating on £15,000 less per year.

Keith added: “I hope we can find a new sponsor soon as it will be almost impossible to keep providing our free services without the funding.”

To support Sycamore Adventure call Keith on 01384 813755, visit sycamoreadventure.co.uk, or search for the Friends of Sycamore Adventure on Facebook.

A whole host of comedians and celebrities are supporting this year’s Red Nose Day on Friday (March 24).

The campaign will culminate in the Comic Relief night on the BBC as a host of favourites – including Dudley’s very own Sir Lenny Henry – preside over a mammoth night of live comedy, sketches, music moments, fundraising films and more.

Joe will be part of the presenting team, where throughout the night he will be joined by fellow stand-up Micky Flanagan and Val from The Great British Bake Off in sections filmed live from Pizza Express in London’s O2.