A NEWPORT children’s centre which cares for children and young people with complex disabilities welcomed a £10,000 cash donation which helped fund an outdoor games area.

Visitors to the Serennu Centre in High Cross will now be able to take part in activities such as football, basketball, netball, rugby and team building exercises thanks to the donation given byWooden Spoon.

The charity, made up of a consortium of local businesses, was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to helping young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport as a method of improving lives.

Over the years, its fundraising initiatives have helped more than 500,000 children with more than £16 million donated towards everything from recovery centres and playgrounds to rugby programmes.

FormerWales rugby player Colin Charvis, who is patron of the Sparkle Appeal set up to raise money for the muchneeded centre, opened the facility on Wednesday.

Former team members from the Newport Gwent Dragons were also invited to the launch.

The Argus-backed centre, opened in April 2011, and provides facilities for 1,200 children with disabilities and developmental difficulties from Newport, South Monmouthshire and South Torfaen.

The £10 million purposebuilt centre was the result of a near decade-long fundraising campaign and is kitted out with consulting rooms, hydrotherapy facilities, physio equipment, speech and language equipment and much more.

It also has a leisure complex including a children’s playground and a medi-cinema to help families socialise and enjoy a range of activities in a supportive environment.