The money will buy Christmas trees for the Centre’s various units but more importantly it will cover the costs of opening the Child Contact Centre on Boxing Day. This is where children spend time with absent parents in a neutral and safe environment.The staff at Manx Gas are only too pleased to support the important community work undertaken by the charity at such a special time of year for families.

Children’s Centre development manager Rebecca MacCauley said the money was a fantastic early Christmas gift which would be put to very good use. With demand on the facilities ever-increasing, she added, the families using its facilities over the holidays, but especially on Boxing Day, would be able to celebrate and enjoy their time together.

"We are delighted to receive this very generous donation from Manx Gas and their staff. The money will be used to support the running of The Children’s Contact Centre to enable absent parents to be with their children at Christmas," she said.