Water therapy bonus (From Free Press Series)

Water therapy bonus

THE TOGs children's centre in New Inn will add a pool-side hoist to its hydrotherapy room thanks to a £2,500 donation from a leading women's magazine.

TOGs (Torfaen Opportunity Group) centre provides support and recreational activities to more than 150 children with physical, learning and sensory disabilities and their families in Torfaen. The centre was founded in 1992 and is located on The Highway.

The money, donated by Candis magazine, will be used to buy a hoist for use in the centre's pool. The pool is used as part of the centre's hydrotherapy programme and the hoist will make water-based activities more accessible to children with physical disabilities.

The donation is a Candis Community Award. Over the past 42 years, Candis has donated more than £48m to medical and health-related charities, and community projects such as TOGs children's centre.

Candis editor Jenny Campbell said: "We understand the difficulties faced by local groups and good causes such as TOGs when raising money for projects and continuing work. Any help that we can provide can make such a difference.

"Candis magazine regularly gives its readers the opportunity to nominate worthwhile causes in their local community."

Reader Margaret Smith, of Brynglas in Cwmbran, whose son, Daniel has attended TOGs for five years, nominated the group for the award.

She said: "Daniel attends the centre every other Saturday. The centre allows him to socialise with his peers, which he wouldn't normally be able to do, and gives me a few hours free to do the Saturday shopping. "The centre is a wonderful thing and provides a service that isn't available elsewhere. The donation from Candis will allow it to continue its work, and for this I am extremely grateful."

Visit www.candis.co.uk for more information