AN award-winning dance company for people with learning disabilities faces imminent closure unless it can raise £50,000.

Anjali Dance Company, has just five weeks to raise the cash or it will be forced to shut its doors for good. The charity, based at the Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury, is the only dance group in the country that specialises in training people with learning disabilities, aged from seven to 70, and then takes their work out on tour to venues across the UK.

About 100 people, from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, regularly train at Anjali, and many more attend workshops around the country.

But in the past three years the charity, which was set up 15 years ago, has lost £100,000 annual contracts and as the Government cuts start to bite its funding will be further stretched.

Last month, the group launched the Keep Anjali Dancing campaign and raised £3,000 within days, but it needs a big push to reach its £50,000 target.

It hopes to find 50 people to raise £1,000 each and has urged individuals to host fundraising events.

But unless it can plug the funding gap by the end of this month, one of Banbury’s success stories will be forced to close.

Founder and artistic director Nicole Thomson said: “The company now faces a stark choice. Either it is closed because of a short-term cash shortage, or to raise £50,000 to plug the gap. This would make it possible to rebuild the company and start the next financial year in a fit state to grow and thrive.

“I know there is a lot of support for Anjali out there.

“The prospects for next year are good if we can get past this challenge.”

Anjali also employs two people who have learning disabilities. They run its education team.

Associate director Mark Barber, who also has a learning disability, said: “Anjali is my life and my job.

“One of the things I do is to help Anjali get more money and be more famous.

“Me and the other Anjali dancers are planning lots of things to make money including a sponsored danceathon.”

Banbury MP Tony Baldry said: “We in North Oxfordshire are very proud that Anjali is based in Banbury, but this is a company of national credit and deserves both local and national support.”

Anyone who can help should view anjali.co.uk/ keepdancing or send donations to Anjali Dance Company, The Mill, Spiceball Park, Banbury.