DEVIZES Opportunity Centre manager Betty Newman can sleep easy after receiving news that Children In Need has once again pledged to support the nursery.

Mrs Newman and her staff were relieved and delighted to be told the charity is to give the centre £33,000 over the next three years.

She said: “It was such a relief to get the news. I was always hopeful but you never know when they may decide not to give us the money any more.”

The grant will pay for one member of staff in Devizes and another in Tidworth who specialise in speech and language work with the special needs children.

To qualify for the grant, Mrs Newman had to take part in a two-hour telephone interview and complete extensive forms.

She said: “If we hadn’t got the money it would have been a massive blow. It is the best possible news. We are so grateful for their continued support.

“Speech and language skills are such an important part of what we do with the children. It is the thing that parents most often comment on when they talk about the improvements they see in their children once they come to us.”

The centre has also gained the top award of £3,000 from the Lloyds Bank Community Fund for the Devizes area.

Mrs Newman said: “I want to thank everyone who voted for us. We are thrilled to get this community grant. I really think it helps.

"Since the Gazette launched the Give Us A Chance appeal people for the first time really understand what we do.”

The centre received 31.6 per cent of the vote cast. Second place and £2,000 went to Sutton Benger Village Hall, third place and £1,000 to Age UK Wiltshire with fourth place and £500 going to Bradbury Manor Respite Services.

A further £1,038 for our appeal was raised by Rebecca Cox with a charity night at the Wyvern Club, Devizes.