THE Royal British Legion has awarded a grant of £25,000 for a play therapy project at Spurgeons’ Bulford Children’s Centre.

This grant will allow the popular play therapy project to continue at the Wiltshire Council-funded centre for another year.

The project offers a variety of activities such as puppetry, music, clay, art, drama and sand play to help children work through feelings they find difficult to explain.

It started in April 2013 and was initially funded by the Community Covenant in Bulford, uses a specially converted therapy bus as a play room. Using the mobile service, children’s charity Spurgeons has been able to offer play therapy sessions for children aged from two to 16.

Andrea Gray, Spurgeons children’s service manager for south Wiltshire, said: “I am delighted that The Royal British Legion has chosen to award this generous grant to Bulford Children’s Centre, which will enable us to continue to make a difference to the lives of many children, and their families, in the local area. The project enables children to communicate their feelings in a different way and this has been particularly helpful with children from a military background who may be experiencing difficulties coping with a parent working away on the frontline.”

Sue Freeth, The Royal British Legion’s director of operations, said: “The Legion is proud to support Spurgeons with this fantastic children’s play therapy project. Children from service families can face frequent relocation, the absence of a parent, or in the saddest circumstances – bereavement. Play therapy is an innovative and effective way to help them cope with these challenges.”