A charity that provides childcare for children with additional needs has launched a new website thanks to support from its community.
Romsey Opportunity Group was founded in 1971 by Joan Thomas, a mother of four, including a child with additional needs.
The charity provides a "safe and secure space" for children with additional needs and disabilities to "have fun, build relationships, learn and flourish."
The group is one of only a few Ofsted-registered, special needs centres remaining in Hampshire.
The group is entirely self-financed and relies on support from the local community, grants, and fundraising.
The new website was designed by Tom Perkins from Evolve Websites and funded by Dutton Gregory Solicitors.
Jonathan Whettingsteel, patron of the group and an employee at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, said: "One of the things I want to achieve as a patron is not just fundraising, although that is vitally important, but also on raising awareness of the Romsey Opportunity Group and the amazing work that they do.
"A website is very much ‘a shop window’ to the outside world, and it felt a new website would be a great opportunity to share the important work the charity does.
"I was really fortunate that the firm I work at, Dutton Gregory Solicitors wanted to offer to make a charity donation to ROG, knowing how important it is to me, and rather than making a cash donation I wanted to use the money to buy something people could see, and the website seemed a great opportunity, as the old could do with a refresh.
"I was also fortunate enough to have a connection through a networking group, Tom Perkins at Evolve Websites whom I know would do a fantastic job, so was able to use a contact who I could trust, and he’s absolutely surpassed anything we could have hoped for."
Pauline Buckley, manager of Romsey Opportunity Group, said: "I have been working for Romsey Opportunity Group since June 2024, taking the reins from a long-standing history of passionate, dedicated and inspiring women who have created and shaped the group into the special, caring and life changing group that it is today.
"Taking on the role of writing our new website was a huge task and I was keen to ensure we captured the true picture of who we are, what we do and where we have come from.
"Our new website has brought us into the 21st Century, filled with photos and information about us, as well as a direct link for referring children to the group, making the process much slicker and more efficient."
The group meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10am and midday during term time in the centre of Romsey.
For more go to romseyopgroup.org.uk/
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