A NEW club for young people with disabilities and special educational needs is to launch in Dudley, thanks to the hard work of volunteers.

All Stars Youth Club kicks off on September 3, where it will welcome young people aged nine to 30 years who live with disabilities and special educational needs, providing a space for them to have fun and make friends.

The club has been launched and funded purely by volunteers, after seeing how great the need is for such a service in the borough.

One session for 8 to 16 year olds and another for 17 to 30-year-olds will give young people a chance to learn skills such as crafts and cooking while meeting new people.

Charlotte Maher-Butler, one of the club's founders, explained how being made redundant as a youth worker at Dudley Council and seeing the subsequent closure of youth clubs for children with extra needs, inspired her to get a club running.

She said: "For some of the kids, it's the only socialising they do so it's really important to have that consistency for them.

"You really do see the difference it makes to the kids."

The organisation of the club has been a family affair, with Charlotte joining forces with her 15-year-old nephew Kyle Harper and his dad Trevor Harper and his mum Vicky Harper.

She paid tribute to the teenager for his efforts in fundraising for the club and hard work in getting the project off the ground.

Dormston School student Kyle. who has helped with youth projects in the past, said he has seen first hand how children can flourish and he cannot wait for the club to get started.

To help fund the launch of the club, the Sedgley family hosted a charity ball on Friday August 23 with performances from singers and a drag queen, which raised over £700.

They were also joined by the Mayor of Dudley, councillor David Stanley and the Mayor's Consort, councillor Anne Millward.

All Stars Youth Club, based at the Himley Road Methodist Church, on the Himley Road in Dudley, will be officially unveiled by the Mayor of Dudley, on Tuesday September 3.

The club will take place every Tuesday night from 6.15pm to 8.45pm and admission is £3.