Bosses of a Kingston charity that runs drama, dance and art classes for disabled children have pledged to “keep on going” after losing some £40,000-worth of funding.

The Young and Disabled and Positively Artistic group (Yadapa) learnt it would receive any money from Achieving for Children (AfC), the community interest company running children services in Kingston and Richmond, from July 1.

The group was founded by the late charity organiser Fran O’Brien in 2005 and runs workshops for young disabled people twice a week, and holiday workshops throughout the year.

Yadapa actors put on performances twice a year for the public, and announced the funding cut at a show on Monday.

After Mrs O’Brien died last year, her widower, Mike, took over the organisation.

He said: “ The children and some of the parents are obviously disappointed.

“We are looking at other funding options now.

“We raised funds and existed long before we were getting money from AfC.

“There are fundraising projects we are working on [but] things are a bit up in the air.

“The organisation will definitely keep on going, without a doubt.”

In the past Yadapa has been funded by the Thames Community Foundation and Children in Need, as well as raising funds itself through various charity events.

This is also not the first time the club has faced problems.

Yadapa is still looking for a permanent home for its after-school club and holiday art, drama and music workshops, following the closure of its New Malden base in the Causeway Centre in 2011. The club’s search for a new home was featured as part of ITV’s London Tonight.

Mr O’Brien said: “Yadapa is Fran’s legacy. We are a small organisation but everyone wants to carry on – the staff, the parents and the children.

“We will be talking again to AfC and to other organisations about funding in coming weeks.”

In the financial year 2014-15 AfC overspent by £1.5m, and faced having to cut a further £4m from its £107m budget before May 2017.

A spokeswoman for AfC said the funding had not been taken out of services for disabled children and was re-allocated to another provider.

She said: “We are dedicated to ensuring that young people with disabilities in Kingston have access to the best possible services, including short break opportunities.

“There are no plans to reduce short breaks funding. Following a recent procurement exercise, the previous provider was unsuccessful.

“The funding will continue to provide specialist short breaks services over the summer.

“We will be running procurement exercises for services in the future, which previous providers are welcome to bid for.”