SARAH Rathbone enjoys going to pubs, eating out, day trips and just hanging out with her friends - much like any other 20-year-old.

But for Sarah everything in life is that little bit more difficult because she suffers from Williams Syndrome - a condition that strikes at random causing varying degrees of brain damage and physical side effects.

Fortunately, Sarah still gets to do all the things she wants and this is largely thanks to PALS, the Partnership and Leisure Scheme - but this is under threat.

"I get lots out of it, it's great fun and I have made loads of new friends," said Sarah. "I suffer heart murmurs and must take things slowly from time to time.

"But I'm a normal person who can to do all the normal things other people do, just I do it at my own pace. PALS gives me independence."

PALS, based at the Deafness Support Network, on London Road, in Northwich provides a life-line to young people and adults from Vale Royal with learning disabilities, helping them to lead more socially active lives.

But the scheme is nearing crisis point and may face closure as social services funding is shortly to be withdrawn.

The scheme's project co-ordinator Jo Goldthorpe said: "We would all be devastated if we had to close.

"Everyone wants to continue, but without the funding, which ends in March 2001, and the volunteers we will have no choice."

The next step for the scheme is to apply to the lottery and various trusts for funding. To be successful the scheme must be expanding and, with 65 members, there's no question that it is growing.

But without volunteers the scheme will grind to a halt.

"We are looking to expand into different areas around Cheshire," said Jo.

"But without more volunteers it will not happen. With more volunteers we could cater for more members. I have had to turn people away because we simply could not cope with so many."

The scheme started in June 1998 and Jason Davitt has been a volunteer since the first day.

"We give up about five hours every third Sunday, but it is not a chore," he said.

"We all have a real laugh as well as helping people. It is fantastic when you see how new members change as they settle in. I cannot say how rewarding it is.

"They go to college and day centres but don't see their friends otherwise. This is their chance to do that.

"There is training for all the volunteers which, as well as helping you learn new skills, looks good on your CV.

"If you like meeting people, making new friends and having a laugh, this is the best place to come."

Jo added: "People have no confidence and are almost scared of working with people with learning disabilities, but whenever volunteers come they cannot believe how good a time they have.

"They always come back, but it's getting them through the door in the first place that's the problem."

PALS currently has seven volunteers who receive full training, and all expenses are paid.

Jo says that giving up just one Sunday afternoon in six months would be fantastic and could help save the scheme.

It may not seem like much, but to Sarah Rathbone and her friends it would make all the difference.

"Before I started coming to PALS, Sundays were boring," she said. "It would be a really big blow if we had to close. If we do not get more volunteers and the money we need we will have to stay at home."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.