The Buddies project in Newbury, Berkshire, to expand from a pilot to a fully operative service with �50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Volunteers will be recruited and trained to work with children requiring special attention.

Sam Laker, chair of Buddies, said there was a demand for the service.

He said: "We are delighted. We discovered a real unmet demand for this kind of service and decided to apply for lottery funding.

"We can now develop the project on a secure base for children with additional needs in West Berkshire."

The community initiative is one of 33 in the South East to benefit from grants worth �3,645,176, which were announced by the Big Lottery Fund on Monday.