A RECORD number of grants were received by West Devon children in 2008, thanks to a local charity.

The Mary Budding Trust, which supports children with special needs living in the area serviced by West Devon Borough Council, helped more than eleven children and schools last year by the provision of grants or equipment.

Chairman Tony Wates said: 'The trust has distributed £21,000 locally over the last three years and we have had much support from the local community.'

Children and staff from the many schools which have benefited from these grants have all expressed their gratitude to the trust for enabling the pupils to progress in all aspects of their learning.

Children with severe hearing loss at Horrabridge and Lamerton primary schools were given a contribution towards a special sound system linked to the electronic white boards.

Ann Mitchell, headteacher at Lamerton Primary School, applied for the grant to set up a Soundfield System in one of the classes at the school.

The school has two classrooms, with a system already set up in one by Devon County Council, but needed to install another system in the second room, at a cost of £1,500.

She said: 'It is a huge amount of money — it makes a huge difference not only to the children but to the teacher's voices.

'I applied to the Mary Budding Trust and they awarded us £750, which, along with grants from the Lions and Rotary Club, enabled us to buy the system.'

A year 1 pupil with autism at Gulworthy Primary School received a special digital camera and a laptop to enable him to work independently.

Melody Nicholls, headteacher, said: 'This is important for Josh, as it will allow him to work independently, especially as he grows up.'

Northlew and Ashbury Primary School had a happy Christmas last year, after they received a gift of some brand new benches and planters from the trust.

Tony Wates said: 'There is a particular child at Northlew who needed a safe, quiet environment outside, while her friends whizz around the playground. We are delighted she has that now.'

Staff and pupils at South Tawton Primary school recently received two laptops to help pupils with special educational needs.

Headteacher at South Tawton Primary School, Heather Poustie, said: 'The children are very excited to have their own laptops to use and having all the programmes on one laptop has been greatly appreciated by all the staff.'

Bridestowe Primary School was provided funds by the trust in order to provide eight-year-old pupil Tom with a laptop computer to support his learning in all aspects, particularly his speech development.

Equipment was also provided for the Incredible Years, a parental involvement learning course, at Tavistock Primary School. Additionally, the school also benefited from a £5,000 donation to create two sensory rooms, one of which has been completed.

The special room is equipped with visual, tactile and auditory equipment to provide an environment to help children concentrate — some of this equipment is versatile and can be used outside the room.

Jackie Freedman, learning development co-ordinator at the school, said: 'These resources are particularly beneficial to the children who attend the resource base for pupils with complex communication and interaction difficulties.'

Lewtrenchard Primary School received a laptop computer and specialist software to assist children with speech and language difficulties; a young pupil with moderate learning difficulties was provided with language games to assist him with reading at home; and a young girl with spina bifida was given a hand propelled tricycle.

Tony Wates said the trust was grateful for all the financial support given during the year, which helped make a huge difference to these individual children and schools.

He added a special thanks to Keiran Rookes from Meavy who undertook a sponsored swim in 2008, raising £210 for the trust, and to the members of Moorland Ladies' Darts Club who provided the charity with its most memorable day of 2008.

He said: 'One of the highlights of the year took place on a sunny June evening at the Red and Black Football Club in Tavistock.

'The Moorland Ladies' Darts Club were celebrating their annual end-of-season presentation of awards, and the Mary Budding Trust was included in the celebration, as all year the club had been collecting for our charity.

'The club kept us in suspense over the amount of the cheque until the last moment. We were so surprised when the cheque was presented — all of £700.'

The trust also expressed thanks to its 2008 sponsors: The Hedley Foundation; Mount House School, Tavistock; Tavistock Lions Club; Mrs Anita Laird; The Devon Education Trust; children from Horrabridge Primary School; The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation; St Andrew's Primary School, Buckland Monachorum; customers of Howells the Butchers, Tavistock; and to the children and parents of Northlew and Ashbury Primary School.

For more information on the trust contact secretary Ann McDonald on 01822 614580 or email [email protected]">[email protected]