DANCERS from Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society’s Youth Section (WODYS) took time out from rehearsals for their forthcoming show Copacabana to visit youngsters at the city charity which they will be raising money for when they stage their production in the summer.

Jean Wilson set up New Hope, a holiday and Saturday club to help give families with disabled children respite.

The charity, in Wells Road, Ronkswood, Worcester, supports 50 families from all over Worcestershire and as far afield as Stratford-upon-Avon, and, as a result of its success, hopes to expand and open premises in Droitwich.

Their cause has been taken up by WODYS as one of its members has a disabled brother and the family is being supported by New Hope.

WODYS uses its annual musical to raise money for a local charity, primarily for children, and so far has raised more than £21,000 for organisations including Acorns Children’s Hospice and Fort Royal Community Primary School, Worcester.

At New Hope, work is underway to install a £3,000-£4,000 multi-sensory area and fit it with padding and soft play equipment at a cost of about £1,000.

It is the money for the play equipment which WODYS are hoping to raise with raffles during the six performances of Barry Manilow's Copacabana at Worcester’s Swan Theatre from Tuesday, July 30, to Saturday, August 3.

Founder Jean Wilson said the emphasis of New Hope is to get children out and about into the local community and beyond to enjoy their leisure time, just as their non-disabled peer group do.

Mrs Wilson, who started New Hope when she couldn’t find suitable daytime respite care for her disabled daughter Emily, said: “As you can imagine running New Hope is an expensive thing to do, mainly because so many of our children need one-to-one support.

“We have been lucky to receive Lottery funding and Children in Need funding but this does not cover all costs.”

David Humphries, WODYS chairman and producer of Copacabana, said: “We are only too pleased to have New Hope as WODYS charity this year, more especially as we have one of our members’ family involved with the organisation.”

Copacabana is the saga of Lola and Tony, and their tale of love and romance on the way to stardom, with original songs created by Barry Manilow, dazzling costumes and sensational choreography.

It is told by a cast of 60 WODYS eight to 18-year-olds whose previous shows have usually sold out and tickets, which can be obtained from Worcester’s Huntingdon Hall box office on 01905 611427, are already going well.