Anne Butterworth is a Star for the Love it, Spar Promotion

"People just like us"

"It's so satisfying to know that you've helped someone."

Anne Butterworth, Preston DISC; Preston, Lancashire.

I have worked as a volunteer at Disability Information Service Centre (DISC) for 12 months. It helps people with disabilities, and is run by disabled people for disabled people.

I had a terrible accident and never worked again. DISC spoke to my family about my back injury. I was so inspired I got a job on reception and became a volunteer.

We're thrilled to have won a SPAR Star of Your Street award. We know what it's like to be disabled and it's reassuring to know people do care.

What we do

We have over 30 volunteers who provide the services. We advise members and their relatives what equipment they need to buy, where to get it and who to call for help.

Usually, relatives need financial help to buy the essentials, so we offer advice on how to get the funds.

We have a newsletter that we send out free of charge on a quarterly basis.

We take the members out on day trips, I help the disabled get around and organise fundraising activities.

We get our funding from a grant from Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and Preston Primary Care Trust.

Community response

Our members are grateful and it's satisfying to know you've helped someone. We need to find more funding or we'll have to decide which services we can and cannot offer. We want to take more disabled people on outings, introduce them back into society and help improve their quality of life. It's sad that in six months' time, we could close without the funding.

To contact DISC, call 01772 558 863 Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4pm. Or write to 103 Church Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3BS.

Published: 13 October 2006 (updated 03/11/2006)