A SAFFRON Walden-based national charity has announced that the town’s MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, has become its patron.

Fledglings – which received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2004 - provides advice and sources products to help disabled children, their families and carers.

Sir Alan said he was “delighted” to become the charity’s patron.

“I have been aware of Fledglings’ work for a number of years. They are a marvellous organisation and the service which they provide makes a material difference to many, many families affected by children’s disability,” he said.

“In my most recent visit to the charity I was very impressed by Fledglings’ plans for the future and their ambition to extend their service to help more families throughout the UK.”

Fledglings’ director Gerry Reilly said: “Sir Alan has taken a keen interest in our work and it is a considerable boost to us that he has agreed to become our patron.

“Our aim is to help more disabled children and their families. To do so we need to raise our profile in order to raise the funds to support our work. Having someone of Sir Alan’s stature associated with Fledglings will, we hope, do a great deal to help us achieve this aim.”

For more information about Fledglings, visit fledglings.org.uk.