I F you had asked Mandy Hudson 20 years ago whether she could work with children with additional needs, she would have given you a quizzical look.

Now, the charity manager at Colchester Gateway, lives and breathes it and her club has become the biggest gateway club in the county.

It all stemmed from a £1,000 grant from Essex County Council to run an evening club for 18 to 80-year-olds with learning disabilities- Now there are four social clubs seeing up to 300 adults on one night.

That £1,000 has amounted to a £157,000 turnover.

“We offer a fuller service and see a range of conditions from autism to quite challenging behaviour,” Mandy said.

“We feel we have achieved quite a lot. We have 18 staff as well as volunteers working on a Friday night.

“The challenge is we receive no statutory funding so we have to raise funds for us to keep going and support our clients.”

In 1997, the group started with £604 in their bank account and the council grant.

It became a charity as it no longer fitted into Essex County Council’s remit.

But from quiet beginnings, the group has grown. In addition to the four social clubs, the group, which is based in the Wilson Marriage Centre in Colchester, runs two music groups, an advocacy and support service plus the Gateway Awards, its equivalent to the Duke of Edinburgh awards.

“With the funding cuts, our members have had to fight a lot more to lead a straightforward life.

“We are battling to make sure we encourage self advocacy,” said Mandy.

However, where there is work, there is also play - one of the reasons the group has become so popular. There are currently more than 500 members on the database.

Members enjoy discos, cooking, sewing, art and live music.

Mandy worked in a bank in her early professional life. But she loves her current role and said the group has transformed beyond belief.

She said: “It can be challenging but it can be extremely rewarding. I worked for Halifax but started doing volunteer work during a career break.

“If you had asked me 22 years ago whether I would be working with people with learning disabilities I would have said no way, but now I love it.”

Colchester Gateway Club is now the largest in Essex.

“I can believe we are the biggest and to be honest we feel quite proud,” Mandy said.

“We are always open to learn as no-one gets it completely right but we feel we are filling a big gap for people with learning disabilities.”

People were travelling from Clacton to attend the group, so it was decided to set one up in the seaside town.

The most recent addition is based at the Adult Education Centre in St Osyth Road, Clacton where there is a cafe and themed activities.

Each week, there is a different themed craft for the members to participate in. Activities also include a professional disco, table tennis and pool.

The club has its own members’ committee which meets monthly and acts as a forum for people to voice their opinions.

A celebration was held at ATIK nightclub in Colchester for all members.

Many said they follow the principle of it doesn’t matter what your dance ability is and it’s fine to dance until you drop.

A total of 264 members danced the night away, part of their enriched and happy lives.

For more information on the club, go to www.colchestergatewayclubs.org.