A GROUP of disabled children from Swindon have been able to enjoy a skiing holiday they will never forget, thanks to a local charity.

Dressability, a charity which adapts clothing for people with physical disabilities, took on the project to help youngsters earlier this year.

Its members joined forces with Pathfinders, a Swindon charity which organises activities for children and young people with a variety of disabilities.

In preparation for the trip to Austria, the charity made ski bags for the children to keep them warm while on the slopes.

“We were fortunate to have been donated free material from two companies – HO Bowley in Manchester and Highwayman Fabric in Leicester,” said Sharon Tombs, the manager of Dressability. “We made 12 bags and six dressmakers worked on them over a period of five weeks. ” Go Outdoors, in Basingstoke, also donated some ski clothing to the trip. A spokesman for Pathfinders said: “Thank you to all the team at Dressability, who worked so hard to finish the ski bags in time. “Facilities for disabled people on the slopes do not exist but the ski bags were made for ease of use by using velcro and zips which made life a lot easier for the carers. “The children and their carers had a great time and the bags kept them warm and dry.”

Pathfinders was established in 1995 and offers people between the ages of 12 and 30 opportunities to develop self-esteem, teamwork and a sense of independence through sports.

All the volunteer helpers who went along on the trip paid their own costs.

For more information about Dressability, which is based in Edison Park, visit its website, which can be found at www.

dressability.org.