Children, their families and staff at a Watford-based charity have thanked Pudsey for making a big difference to their lives.

Children’s charity Playskill was awarded a three-year grant for almost £100,000 from BBC Children in Need earlier this year.

The money is helping to fund the organisation’s specialist skills development for pre-school children with physical difficult or delay.

Playskill marked this year’s appeal, which raised almost £40 million for children and young people in the UK, by dressing up in Pudsey Bear-themed costume to say thank you for the financial support and demonstrate how the grant is making a difference to its work. Watford Observer: The charity, which was also awarded a five-year grant worth almost £500,000 from the National Lottery, runs groups in Watford and Hemel Hempstead.

Playskill is the only charity in Hertfordshire providing free expert support from a paediatric physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist in a group play session for pre-school children aged one to five who have physical disabilities or delay.

Watford Observer:

The sessions use play as a tool for development. While the children are having fun, they are also learning to stand, eat, communicate and walk.