Making cakes, doing basic arithmetic and going shopping may appear simple to most people.

However, to clients of Parkside, an Aldershot charity that helps physically and mentally disabled people, completing such tasks is a constant struggle.

But a new extension to its Guildford Road base should enable clients to learn new life skills.

Staff at Parkside are now looking for people to sponsor bricks that will make up a new kitchen, wet room, toilet and television room, all of which are under construction.

Carol Robinson, Parkside’s funding and development manager, said the extension would hugely benefit clients.

“General life skills come naturally to many children, but our clients can have difficulty with numeracy or other things like that,” she added.

“Having a new kitchen will enable the clients to cook and learn by weighing out measures of different ingredients.

“Our clients take a bit longer than others to learn some of the basic skills that are required.

“We should be able to teach them about money so they know how much change they should get back in the shops.

“It will be perfect to have a quiet room with computers in where people can work without being disturbed by what’s going on and the hustle and bustle in the main hall.”

Parkside has used financial reserves and £15,000 raised by members of Farnborough’s Southwood Golf Club for the project.

But more money is required for the build and to buy equipment for the new rooms, including white goods for the kitchen and other training facilities.

“The whole thing’s going to cost about £100,000, so we’re hoping we can raise a bit more money by members of the public sponsoring bricks at £2 each,” Mrs Robinson said.

“At the moment we’re trying to get funds together and we’re hopeful that the community will pull together.”

When the building work is complete, Parkside plans to publish a book with pictures of how the project has progressed.

The book will also include the names of all those who have contributed cash to the extension.

More than £4,000 was raised for the charity last month from a fun day in Aldershot Park.

Adrian and Paula Rice from Hook-based Acrobat Vehicle Rental manned an ice-cream van, raising £1,000 for Park-side.

Members of Aldershot and Fleet Rugby Club cooked burgers and sausages from Aldershot’s Turner’s Butchers on a barbecue.

Soldiers and Army Cadets from Ash Vale’s Keogh Barracks helped set up and clear away the day’s apparatus.

Parkside helps people who have a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and varying degrees of autism.

The charity is affiliated to the national organisation Mencap but does not receive any direct funding from it.

Parkside was established 45 years ago by parents who found there was a lack of support for families of children with special needs.

It provides after-school and weekend clubs for children and teenagers and has a multi-sensory room at its base.

For more information visit www.parksidealdershot.co.uk or call 01252 313103.