Nursery manager Sarah Wheeler, who works closely with staff at Devizes Opportunity Centre, is proud her children, staff and parents have supported our Give Us A Chance Appeal.

On Friday youngsters at Townsend Barn Nursery, Poulshot, took part in a number of games to raise money for our appeal and Sport Relief.

Mrs Wheeler said: “We have children who come to us who also go to the opportunity centre so we know how important the work they do really is.

“We thought it would be good for all of our youngsters to raise money for a local community charity as well as Sport Relief.

“I am very proud of all of them. It was a fantastic day and all you could hear were giggles as they took part. We are going to continue fundraising for the opportunity centre throughout the year. I don’t know what would happen if the centre wasn’t there.

“All of our children have individual education plans and so if we have a child who also goes to the centre we meet staff there to talk about their needs. It is very reassuring for parents to know we are all working together to get the best possible outcome for their child.”

On Friday morning 33 children took part in an obstacle course featuring stilts, bean bags, egg and spoon and running through tyres. In the afternoon youngsters aged one and two took part in yoga while the pre-school children were coached on cricket and had a go at batting, throwing and catching.

The £100 raised and will be split equally between the opportunity centre and Sport Relief.

The nursery, which opened two years ago to cater for children from birth to four, now has 80 children on its roll and there are waiting lists for some ages.

  • Two plucky mums with special reasons to support the appeal are raising money by holding a head shave.

Reece Gidley, six, who has Downs Syndrome, now goes to the special unit at Wansdyke Primary School in Devizes, but his mum Anita has not forgotten the help her son received at the centre.

Poppy Rose Ellison Balchin, three, who has a number of developmental problems, attends the centre and her mum Lily Balchin from Melksham also wants to help. Both women will take part in a sponsored head shave after Easter at the centre.