WHEN little Matthew Cooper first went to The Rainbow Centre he could not sit up by himself or walk at all.

Now eight months on the laughing three-year-old has taken his first tentative steps with a pair of small walking sticks and can even climb up stairs.

He is just one of hundreds of children with cerebral palsy who have benefited from the care given by specially trained Hungarian staff - called conductors - at the centre.

Now the Fareham based charity, founded by Helen Somerset-How 14 years ago, has been handed a £4,200 grant from the Gannett Foundation, a fund set up by the US based parent company of Daily Echo owners Newsquest.

The money will be spent on training staff how to use a new piece of play equipment called a soundbeam at a Saturday club for children aged four to ten.

Mrs Somerset-How said: "The soundbeam provides an incentive for movement and gives children an appreciation of sound. This single piece of equipment uses a range of senses and helps the children develop.

"We are very grateful to the Gannett Foundation for this grant. We appreciate that it was the largest grant given and we are gratified that we received such recognition."

At present 43 children visit The Rainbow Centre with many coming from all across Hampshire and Dorset several times a week.

Matthew's mum, Jo, is full of praise for the difference The Rainbow Centre has made to her son.

"It has been fantastic. It has helped Matthew learn the disciplines of day-to-day life. He can now walk with his sticks, walk on his knees and push himself along the play beam.

"The support the centre gives to families and children is fantastic. I don't know what we would have done without it."