THE Labour Party, meeting in Brighton, is suffering from an identity crisis. A century after it was formed to campaign for the rights of the underprivileged, New Labour was defeated by conference for failing to restore a decent State pension for all.

Unsure of its constituency or purpose, the party is turning somersaults to keep wealthy Middle England happy. Meanwhile, two projects for disabled young people in York face the axe.

Who is the Labour Party for, if not the special needs youngsters who use SNAPPY? What sort of twisted priorities allow hundreds of millions of pounds of public money to be lavished on the Millennium Dome while charity workers scrabble around trying to find £3,000 a month?

SNAPPY's overriding aim is to give disabled youngsters from five to 25 similar opportunities to their peers. It provides play schemes during the school holidays and youth clubs in term time.

The two schemes under immediate threat teach teenagers and young adults life skills ranging from money management to computer literacy. They also give them the chance to get together and have some fun.

All this has been achieved through the dedication of a small, mainly part-time staff and many volunteers.

Much of their energy is diverted to the ceaseless round of fund-raising. But even their unflagging efforts have not been able to stop these two projects sliding to the brink of closure. An immediate cash injection is needed to save them.

It is scandalous that such a valuable organisation should be forced to beg for cash from local businesses. SNAPPY should be fully funded by the State.

As well as the compelling moral argument for this, it makes economic sense. Some of the older SNAPPY clients have passed qualifications that might enable them to find a job and support themselves. Others have been helped to live independently. This cost-efficient organisation is helping to save public money.

New Labour should take a look at SNAPPY and realise: here is your constituency. These young people are your priority.