PEOPLE who attend an activity-led day centre for adults are helping to put smiles on the faces of children with disabilities in Uganda.

The Broadacres-run ABLE (Activity Based Learning Environment) Day Centre in Colburn has been a hive of activity in recent months as adults who attend the centre make dolls made from socks for the children

The ‘sock dolls’ are being taken to Kumi in eastern Uganda where they are handed out to local children, many of whom have never had a doll or toy of any kind.

The dolls are distributed by the Kumi Community Foundation, an organisation set up in 2002 by Darlington woman Elspeth Robinson.

Elspeth is a regular visitor to Kumi and will return on her latest charity mission later this year. She will be accompanied by Lynne Williams, who works at The ABLE Day Centre.

The retired physiotherapist said: “Everyone has really enjoyed making the dolls and they have enjoyed seeing pictures of the children in Uganda who have already received them.

“We will be taking even more over with us in October; they really put smiles on the children’s faces.

"The motto of the foundation is ‘helping others to help themselves’ and like most charitable organisations we are reliant on the generosity of the public, whether that’s through financial donations or donations like the one made by The ABLE Day Centre.

“It really does make such a difference to children and their families.”

For more information about the work carried out by the Kumi Community Foundation visit

www.kumicommunityfoundation.co.uk