SERENNU Children's Centre in Newport bought new speech and language play equipment thanks to a £1,000 donation from the Gwent Hospitals Contributory Fund (GHCF).

The Argus-backed centre in High Cross, which opened in April 2011 and provides facilities for 1,200 Gwent children with complex disabilities, will use the equipment to help children who suffer from profound motor and learning disabilities to use non-verbal forms of communication to get their message across.

The alternative augmentative communication equipment (AAC) is based on eye gaze and touch, allowing children to let you know what they want to play with by looking at an item or pressing brightly coloured buttons.

One child who will benefit is three-year-old Lily Boshier, from Newport, who has cerebral palsy and is unable to speak. But using the specialist equipment has helped to dramatically improve her communication.

Speech and language therapist Helen Myall said: "Many of the children have responded very well to the new toys. It enables them to make choices, interact and overcome the frustration of not being able to verbalise their requests."

Sparkle fundraising manager Lisa Thomas said donations from the local community were vital to providing facilities for the complex, and businesses could also donate their time to events such as bag-packing, charity golf days, raffles and car washes.

GHCF chief executive Andy Wilkins added: "It was great to visit the centre and see how our donation is helping children like Lily in their development and making their daily lives a bit easier."