A CHARITY-RUN play centre has been saved from permanent closure thanks to a £12,000 donation from a Bournemouth business.

Fernheath Play, based in West Howe, was forced to suspend its play work for the first time in 38 years in 2015 due to staff shortages.

Since then the charity, which looks after disadvantaged and disabled children, has been fighting to fully re-open.

And now thanks to the generous donation from Bournemouth-based retirement housebuilder McCarthy and Stone, the charity can re-open its play schemes during school term times.

McCarthy and Stone made an identical donation in 2015 which helped towards the staffing costs of childcare play workers at the centre.

Set up in 1976, the adventure playground in Verney Road caters for children in the West Howe and surrounding areas. More than just a place to play, the charity’s ethos extends to helping vulnerable children whose home lives are difficult.

It also supports disabled children and promotes ‘integrated play’ between those with disabilities and those without.

The organisation has a wide range of outdoor equipment, as well as indoor spaces for activities, table top games, and play and sensory rooms.

Paddy Williamson, chairman of Fernheath Play, said: “We’re delighted to receive another extremely generous donation from McCarthy and Stone.

"Fernheath Play is largely self-funded so support like this is vital to our survival. McCarthy and Stone’s donation last year meant we were able to recruit some of the specialist staff we needed to continue our work.

"This, combined with the new donation, means we have been able to re-open some of our after school clubs during term time.

"This makes such a difference to the local children and families we support, although we still have a long way to go in terms of the fundraising needed to fully reopen all of our other play work sessions, and continue the play schemes during school holidays and at weekends too .”

Paddy and the team have a number of fundraising initiatives planned to help raise the other running costs needed for the centre to fully re-open, and just last month Paddy embarked on a sky-dive for her 70th birthday.

She made the jump at 10,000 feet over Old Sarum airfield, all to raise much-needed funds for the centre.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, and Patron of Fernheath Play, said: “Paddy and her team provide a fantastic and valued service to local children and their families.

"Without the support of local companies like McCarthy and Stone, great organisations like this would be forced to suspend their work, meaning that those who depend on their services would be left without this vital support.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Fernheath Play should go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/paddywilliamson.