Ref. 28259-17MAKE THEIR CHRISTMAS: WALCOT Family Centre, which hosts a toddler group, drop-in centre, crches and an after school club, said all its children enjoyed last year's Christmas party, funded in part by Evening Advertiser readers.

A year on, the centre is again one of the worthy beneficiaries of the Evening Advertiser Christmas Appeal.

The centre's family and childcare worker Susie Wagner said: "It's lovely for the children to have something to look forward to."

Sited in the grounds of Mountford Manor Primary School, the centre is at the heart of Walcot.

About 80 children regularly use its facilities, and parents can take advantage of a services ranging from advice on parenting skills to classes in information technology, English, first aid and healthy eating.

"It's a centre for all the family and provides support and advice for parents on all aspects of everyday life," said Susie. "It's vital to the community because people have nowhere else to go. It's a disadvantaged area with high unemployment and large numbers of single parents. They come to us to meet other people and go back to learning."

Staff and volunteers at the centre also try to help people who have become unemployed get back into work.

At Christmas time, the centre is given toys by church groups and local companies, which are then distributed among deserving families.

The centre is one of 11 organisations in line to benefit from the Evening Advertiser Christmas Appeal. The others are the West Swindon Family Centre, The Welcome Centre, Homestart, the Chalet School, the Koalas Opportunity Group, the Green Hut, Uplands School, Brimble Hill School, the Otters Group, and Swindon Women's Refuge.

atate@newswilts.co.uk

HOW TO DONATE TO THE APPEAL

To donate money to our Christmas appeal you can drop in to any branch of Nationwide and quote Evening Advertiser Christmas Appeal Account number

0435/703528821

Collection boxes have also been placed in the following locations:

Sainsbury's in Bridgemead

Sainsbury's in Stratton St Margaret.

Tesco in The Parade, Swindon

Havelock News in Havelock Street

Baileys News in Cheney Manor and in High Street, Wootton Bassett.

Dillons, in Newburgh Place, Highworth.

Grange Drive News, in Grange Drive, Stratton St Margaret.

Spar shop in Purton.

Rodbourne Mini Market, in Rodbourne Road, Rodbourne Cheney.