A dance instructor from Chislehurst who was recently awarded a BEM has spoken of the difficulty in raising enough money to keep her charity organisation going.

Avril Hitman, 63, was awarded the British Empire Medal for her work setting up an organisation giving dance classes for people with learning difficulties.

Magpies, the charity organisation set up by Ms Hitman 32 years ago, started with weekly dance sessions for people with disabilities and now supports 3,000 people from eight to 80 annually.

With the increased growth comes with increased cost however, and the organisation needs to raise £350,000 annually to keep the organisation going.

Ms Hitman said: “We rely on our funding from charities and trusts very much. We would love to speak to people who can sponsor one of our dancers or classes because without the funding we couldn’t do what we do.

“Our office space is in the Churchill Theatre and it doesn’t cost us anything so we are always looking for anyone who can help us.

“I know there are other charities out there who are in our situation. Hopefully we can continue for 30 plus years and beyond.”

When Magpies opened originally in the Astley social services centre in Bromley, there was very few opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the area.

In the years since, Ms Hitman says the opportunities for people with learning disabilities to take part in creative activities has grown but Magpies still stands apart and unique from the crowd.

She said: “. There were very few opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the area at the time. It has grown and flourished a lot in the 32 years since it opened.

“There are more opportunities for people to get involved but there aren’t very many like Magpies around.

“I couldn’t do the work without the amazing work of the staff at Magpies and the great team I have, and the people in the office who make the wheels go round.”

She discovered she had been awarded a BEM when a letter from the cabinet office came to her home just before Christmas 2016.

She said: ““It’s amazing I was absolutely thrilled when I was recognised after all this time. It’s a great honour, and it’s great that Magpies is being recognised.

“My life’s passion working with Magpie’s participants and dancers has inspired me to continue opening doors through the medium of dance to achieve a more inclusive world.”