A charity which provides a lifeline to parents of children with special and complex needs is appealing for help in funding £160,000 of repairs.

Maidstone Mencap runs play groups, holiday and youth clubs at the crumbling Cobtree Hall in Mote Park, where it has been based for 47 years.

But due to its age, the roof and guttering of the former church need to be completely replaced, with repairs also required to the stonework, which has blown due to damp. The building has been deemed safe, but warning signs have been placed by the deteriorating walls.

The playschool, which runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, caters for up to 25 children from Maidstone, Malling and the Weald aged two to five who receive one-to-one care thanks to volunteers.

Manager Leanne Morris told the Kent Messenger repairs were vital to keep the services running. She said: “We are the only playschool in the area to support children with physical, mental, social and educational needs, so lots of families rely on us.

“A lot of the children would not be able to cope in a mainstream environment and there is nowhere else for them to go.

“It is also important to support parents who feel like they can leave their children with us for respite care. Being able to keep the hall open is a major concern for Maidstone Mencap.”

The organisation, which owns the building, receives no government funding, so the fundraisers are trying to secure grants and donations towards the cost.

The project is estimated at £130,000 in the first year, and £30,000 for the remaining works, which would take five years. The charity is £52,000 short of funding for the first phase alone, and is struggling to meet its day-to-day running costs.

Maidstone Mencap trustee Lesley Rowbotham said: “The roof has to be done soon and it’s not the kind of money we’ll be able to raise by doing a few jumble sales. We don’t want to sell up because it is a really iconic building in such a great open setting.

“It means the children can play outside. I can’t imagine what we would do if we couldn’t use it.”

To donate, text MMCH42 followed by the amount you wish to give to 70070. For more, or to volunteer, visit www.maidstonemencap.org ; your network provider will not charge you for the SMS you send to make the donation.