NEW volunteers are needed for a charity specialising in home visits for youngsters with special needs.

Portage, based in Malvern, is looking for people to spare up to two hours per week helping youngsters develop with teaching and stimulation at home.

The charity currently visits 40 children using 12 volunteers working on a voluntary basis.

But it is short of staff to cover Worcester and Droitwich.

"There are over 300 Portage services in the country and we appear to be almost the only one where there are no paid Portage visitors working on a full or part-time basis," said educational psychologist and supervisor Diana Maiden.

"In spite of the financial problems, the Portage service here is flourishing.

"We're hoping for a grant from the Joint Health Authority and social services fund of a couple of thousand pounds, but otherwise we depend on local donations and our own fund-raising to keep going."

Volunteers will receive a five-day training course and can carry out their duties whenever they are available.

For more information, call Portage on 01684 612740.