Charity nets £4,000 windfall

Anna Reeves left, manager of ACE Centre North and Nicola Bush, who has cerebral palsy, using a device to communicate. The centre can be called on 0161-684 2333

AN OLDHAM-based charity is celebrating after the Premier League donated £4,000 as part of a community initiative.

ACE Centre North, based at Hollinwood Business Centre, is a specialist team of therapists, teachers and technologists who help people with little or no clear speech communicate through a number of methods, from sign language to computer-based technology.

The centre provides 12 free information days per year, each consisting of an hour-long, confidential, face-to-face meetings with relevant staff for the provision of general help and advice. The extra cash will be used to provide five additional free information days for potential service users, their families and carers.

As part of the “Places for Players” initiative, Bolton Wanderers and the Premier League picked the organisation to receive one of the five prizes of £4,000.

Rachel Thwaite of ACE said: “We will be able to increase the number of appointments, dramatically reduce waiting times and benefit an additional 75 people.”