SHE is perhaps best-known as one of the greatest British comedians – making regular television appearances and entertaining audiences with her stand-up comedy.

But Jo Brand has now joined the call to county residents and businesses to support the Hereford Times' Project Chrysalis appeal.

With your support, we are aiming to raise £35,000 for Megan Baker House to fund a year of life-changing conductive education for 10 children with motor disabilities.

Jo, a charity patron, said: "It seems incredible that my association with Megan Baker House reaches back to 2006. "And over those 10 years so many children and their families have been enabled to 'grow' – guided through the path of conductive education to learn life skills to achieve increased independence and self determination.

"I am also humbled by the realisation all this is offered without any cost to the families and that we, as a community, find the means to make possible the work at Megan Baker House, and it needs to continue."

She will be performing at the Courtyard in Hereford – which she is also a patron of – on May 24 to raise money for both charities.

Meanwhile, Chloe Hicks, the lead conductor at Megan Baker House has spoken about why she chose such a rewarding career.

She said: "My involvement with MBH began at 17 after reading an article in the Hereford Times written by a conductor who was currently working there.

"He described conductive education (CE) as a mix between physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. I had planned to go to train as a physiotherapist or speech and language therapist but could not choose between the two so CE sounded like the perfect path for me.

"I phoned up to enquire and did weekly work experience thereafter. On my first encounter, I immediately knew conductive education was the career for me."

At 18, she went to the National Institute of Conductive Education in Birmingham and Wolverhampton University to train.

After graduating with a BA honours degree in Conductive Education, she was fortunate to get a job at Megan Baker House and three years ago took on the role as lead conductor overseeing the running of the sessions.

She said: "It is both mentally and physically hard but the rewards are amazing. Experiencing children achieving milestones they were told they never would and seeing the joy on their parent’s faces is truly indescribable."

Anyone wanting to know more about conductive education, training to be a conductor or the services on offer can email chloe@meganbakerhouse.org.uk or call 01568 616179.

For tickets to Jo Brand's event at the Courtyard visit courtyard.org.uk/events/jo-brand/

Ways to donate to Project Chrysalis:

Visit justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/meganbakerhouse/projectchrysalis

Send a cheque to Megan Baker House, Moreton Eye, Leominster, HR6 0DP

Call the charity on 01568 616179 to arrange a BACS transfer