MORE families will be able to give the luxury of 'tailored toy packages' to children with special educational needs thanks to a £280,000 grant.

The influx of money, gifted by The National Lottery Community Fund, was described as "amazing" by staff at Bradford Inclusive Disability Service (B.I.D.S.), formerly known as Bradford Toy Library, at St. Luke's Hospital.

The cash will fund staff wages for the next five years, residential trips, their personalised toy loan system and their support groups.

The charity - formerly known as the Bradford Toy Library and based in St. Luke’s Hospital - has secured five years of funding, after opening its doors 45 years ago.

With 36 years of experience between them, Emma Fawcett and Michelle Neale both have Autistic children and share similar experiences to many of the parents they support daily.

Michelle, whose daughter is now 21, told the Telegraph & Argus: "You feel very humbled to be a part of these families’ lives, on the journey with them, and to be able to give them suggestions.

“I wish there had been a service like this for my daughter because we felt very isolated in the community.

"My daughter was six years old when I joined here, so she has gone through the process with me, and now, at age 21, she is a working in the same kind of sector as a qualified teacher with another charity.

"You just live a different life with a child with a disability."

The funding will also be used to fund healthy eating boxes for children who struggle to eat and expensive specialised toys like light up, musical curtains.

The group also hosts a 'Teen Zone' group to boost confidence and hope, letting them know they are not alone.

Emma Fawcett of Bradford Inclusive Disability Service said: “I came as a parent with my youngest who has Autism, and I’ve just kind of stayed. I love my job, it’s what my family is about, and all the people we look after I feel I can help them. I guess it’s my nature to feel this way, and I love it. I don’t want to stop doing it.”

These sort of schemes can be life-changing for Bradford's families, who may find they purchase toys but their child doesn't take much interest.

Over a quarter of a million pounds - £282,463 exactly - of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund will allow B.I.D.S. to continue to positively impact the lives of hundreds of children and their parents in Bradford.

Emma added: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help us to continue to invest in children’s futures in Bradford. It’s truly fantastic.”