The West Lancs Disability Helpline is holding its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 27 at its office on the second floor of Whelmar House in Skelmersdale, starting at 10.30am.

As in previous years they will be discussing their performance in 2016 and their aims for the future.

Tony Lewis, manager of Disability Advice West Lancs, told QLocal: "Our Queen’s Award winning charity, established in 1981, provides high quality, confidential information, advice and support to disabled people and their carers in West Lancashire, empowering them to make informed choices about how they wish to live their lives.

“The feedback we have received includes a client who told us 'we changed her life' from her first meeting with us because of the advice and support we provided.

“Another client said that she now feels that she does not have to worry when she receives official documentation; she feels safer as she knows she can ask for help if she does not understand the content.

“A third client was appreciative that we saw her in her own home and brought our welfare advice service to her, so she would not be excluded because she was housebound. We enabled her to successfully claim the higher rate of Attendance Allowance and she now reports that she feels much tidier and better, as she is able to pay a cleaner and a gardener weekly.”

Examples of services provided include: information & advice regarding holidays, equipment, leisure, mobility, community care, transport, welfare benefits advice, form-filling, guidance during the appeal process and signposting.

The team deals with almost 5,000 enquiries each year and generates some £1millions in welfare benefit income for clients.

Clients can contact the helpline by Freephone on 0800 200676, e: enquiries@dawl.uk or can call in to its second floor Whelmar House office from Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm (they are closed to the public on Friday).

Peter Wren, chairman of DAWL added: “We are looking to expand our volunteer base and we would welcome talking to anyone who thinks they meet our criteria.”