A TEAM of charity workers from Okehampton have been hard at work in Bulgaria to ensure a crucial orphanage helping children with special needs can remain open.

An advance party of four members of the House of Rachel charity team headed to Krivnya Orphanage in April to prepare for a major renovation project.

On arrival, the team discovered the orphanage was threatened with closure, the news coming just a few hours after the team had visited Provadia, another orphanage helped by the House of Rachel charity. If the orphanage failed an upcoming inspection, it would close.

The building team followed the advance party a fortnight later. New windows, suspended ceilings, lighting, and laminate flooring were put into two newly decorated classrooms, and four bedrooms were redecorated.

The communal living area was painted with bright frescos. New toilets were installed, the floors were retiled and vital plumbing repairs were carried out.

Andrew Morgan, House of Rachel founder said: 'One of the carers shared with me that Krivnya Orphanage was the only one within a 200-kilometre radius which cared for children with special needs. He was deeply concerned for the fate of the children should the home close.

'The director asked us if we could change our schedule of works to attend to the issues which would cause them to fail the inspection.

'Two weeks later the builders and decorators arrived on site to start work. We had a brilliant week and got so much work done. We were even able to add to the scheduled jobs as we reaped the rewards of sending an advance party to get everything ready.'

'The director was amazed by the speed at which the team worked and couldn't believe what was achieved in one week. She is so pleased at the results. Now we are all hoping and praying for a favourable inspection.'

The trip proved additionally rewarding for the advance party, who got to see the impact of their work at Provadia Orphanage.

In 2010, a team from Okehampton visited Provadia to carry out renovation work. This eventually led to unlocking EU funding to help renovate the entire orphanage.

It now has a fully operational rehabilitation day centre for children from orphanages in the district, and four twin bedrooms to replace the old dormitories.

Andrew said: 'I was amazed by the transformation. We are absolutely delighted that our intervention saved the children from a terrible fate, and led to the creation of such a fabulous facility.'

To find out more about the House of Rachel, visit http://www.houseofrachel.org">www.houseofrachel.org