A group which provides vital sporting opportunities for blind and partially sighted children is facing closure because of a cash crisis.

The Gwent Actionnaires Group based in Cwmbran needs a cash injection amounting to thousands of pounds to continue running after the end of March.

The club, which meets every other Saturday at Cwmbran Stadium was set up by the national charity Action for Blind People. It was the first club of its kind in Wales, but now it and a club in Neath Port Talbot could face closure and jobs will be lost unless it can find future funding.

The free service is used by 29 families from all over Gwent. Each session usually attracts 12 to 14 children between the ages of four to 16. Last Saturday the group went skiing at Pontypool Ski Centre.

Nicola Brann, 40, has two children who attend the group. Rhys Jones, 9, who is partially sighted and his younger brother, Ryan aged 7, who attends to support his sibling.

She said: "It would be awful if it were to close. The children get to participate in things and it builds confidence. The boys loved skiing and it's nice for parents to mix too."

Sports Development Officer for Action for Blind People, Nicky Malson, said: "Actionnaires offers a wide range of opportunities to local visually impaired children. The group is about making the children feel safe and building confidence so that they can take part in activities they otherwise wouldn't have been able too."

The work they do allows blind and partially sighted children of school age to participate in sports such as skiing, trampolining, martial arts and swimming, in a safe, structured and fun environment; building self-confidence, improving health and fitness and instilling a "can do" attitude in blind and partially sighted children from an early age.

The threat to the club emerged after the chief executive of Action for Blind People wrote to parents and guardians advising that the clubs may not be able to continue running after March 31st 2010, due to issues around funding.

Mr Malson added: "We want to raise the profile of the two clubs in Wales to raise funds. I predict that £15,000 a year would support the two Welsh clubs, but the bigger the budget the better the programme will be for the children.

"I'm desperate to make sure these children don't lose this opportunity to participate in sports."

Colin Whitbourn, head of sector engagement at the charity said: "Having developed these clubs, we want them to continue. We recognise that, if this is not possible, the decision to close the clubs will cause immense disappointment."

Mr Whitbourn also revealed that jobs were at risk. He said: "Those affected will be offered redeployment wherever possible."

Torfaen AM, Lynne Neagle, has lent her support to the campaign after being contacted by a worried constituent, whose grandchild is a regular attendee at sessions organised by the club.

She said: "Whatever the short-term issues around funding, I believe there must be a way forward that allows their fantastic work to continue long into the future."

The Torfaen AM plans to meet with the officials from RNIB and Action for Blind People and has written to the Assembly Government to investigate possible sources of funding that would allow the clubs to continue.

For more information call Nicky Malson on 07894 598860 or email nicky.malson@actionforblindpeople.org.uk or to see the petition, which now has 900 signatures, visit petitionbuzz.com/petitions/actionnaireswales