Devizes Opportunity Centre manager Betty Newman wants groups and individuals to raise funds for it.

The centre has a shortfall of £40,000 this year just to cover general running costs.

The centre’s main funder is Wiltshire Council but with it having to make huge budget cuts there is uncertainty about how much the centre will receive next year.

The centre, in Belle Vue Road, helps children from birth to the age of five with special needs.

Mrs Newman said: “Money is a constant headache for us. Our job is to provide support and to make sure each child is given the chance to reach their full potential.

“But all the time we are having to think about ways to fundraise to make up our shortfall in cash.

“Wiltshire Council has confirmed it wants to keep us as their district specialist centre for early years special needs but we still don’t know what the budget will be.

“Two years ago we had our funding from Wiltshire Council cut by £13,000 and we are not sure yet if there will be further cuts.

“We are in the third year of grant funding from Children in Need and from the Zurich insurance group and we are searching all the time for avenues of funding.

“Last year we started with a deficit of £65,000 and we ended up with a deficit of £7,000.

“It’s a very precarious situation we are in every year.

“However, somehow we come through.

“My motto is: ‘you keep your head down and keep on going’.

“We don’t waste a penny. It all goes to the benefit of the children.

“There are a lot of supportive people and groups in the community but if any others are able to help us with donations or by organising an event we would be very grateful.”

Mrs Newman has been manager of the centre for 21 years and said the number of children needing the centre’s help had grown considerably.

She said: “A few years ago we used to have on average about 25 children but now we have 60.

“Nine of those are at our sub-centre in Tidworth.

“We have extended the area we cover because of the need and we take children from Tidworth, Marlborough, Pewsey and Melksham.

“Families don’t pay for our services.

“Some children receive free entitlement from the Government and we can claim that but we get £15 and a session costs over £30,” she said.