Children with special needs from Dawlish's Aims Saturday club were celebrating with a song this week, after grass-roots charity, Devon Community Foundation, presented them with a cheque for £5,240 to help the group run music workshops.
Aims, which was set up about 13 years ago as a support group and activity club for families with special need children, now has almost 40 members.
The families meet up weekly to share in musical activities, art and craft sessions, games and trips which are also designed to involve all the family members – including brothers and sisters.
Liz Wedlake, co-ordinator for the group explained: 'Music has always been one of the childrens‚ favourite activities, with the rhythm, noise and vibration being especially enjoyed by those with special needs. It's also a great activity for their brothers and sisters to join in with too.
'The grant means we'll be able to run more musical workshop sessions with our Youth Worker, Robin Brown, and to set up some specialist workshops like African Drumming.
'We'll also be able to invest in a laptop computer and software which will allow us to record and mix‚ the music we make and provide an opportunity for some of the children to develop their own musical technology skills.
'The funding from Devon Community Foundation will make a fantastic difference and is even more welcome since the funding we used to receive from health and social services has been stopped.'
The Eastcliff Band Project, set up to provide a focus for young people through music in Dawlish, also received a grant of £6,933 from the Foundation to buy multi-track recording equipment and new instruments.
Melanie McLoughlin, Director of Devon Community Foundation explained: 'It's great to see how money from the Government's Local Network Fund is being put into action on the ground by volunteers to make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children.
'We've supported over 200 voluntary and charity groups across Devon this year who help disadvantaged and young people and we know that the small grants we offer can often prove a lifeline for these groups.'
Anyone wishing to apply for a grant from the Local Network Fund should call 0845 113 0161 and ask for an application pack or call the Foundation on 01884 235887 for further information about grants or fundraising on the Foundation's behalf.