Burgeoning Exeter-based business backs city children's centre

A burgeoning Exeter-based business is lending its support to a city childrenʼs centre.

Educational software specialist Paritor has chosen the music therapy service at Honeylands, a facility for young children with complex special needs in Pinhoe Road, as its charity of the year.

Employees of the firm, which designs software to help schools and colleges manage the performing arts, will undertake a series of fundraising initiatives as well as volunteering their time and expertise.

While Honeylands caters primarily for older children, the music therapy service supports pre-school age youngsters with autistic spectrum disorders affecting how they interact with others.

Unfortunately, it no longer receives any funding from the NHS and is now entirely dependent on fundraising by Honeylands League of Friends and support from external sources, such as Paritor, to continue its good work.

Dozens of children with complex special needs benefit from music therapy at the centre every year – it helps them with their communication, social interaction and emotional expression and also heightens motor skills and self awareness.

Paritor, which has just moved to new premises on Exeter Business Park, received a large number of applications from organisations keen to become its charity of the year but it was the Honeylands Music Therapy Service that gained the vote of managing director Simon Dutton and his team.

“We are delighted that Honeylands Music Therapy Service will be our chosen charity for 2013 and cannot wait to start raising funds to ensure it is able to continue its invaluable work,” enthused Simon.

“Honeylands League of Friends is committed to ensuring that the children get the best-possible assistance and support and weʼre committed to helping them realise that goal. Indeed, we have already been in talks with them and the centreʼs music therapist to establish a fundraising plan.

“In addition to raising funds for the music therapy service, weʼd like to do much more besides,” continued Simon.

“We want to collaborate with the League of Friends to deliver a strategic, mission-focused, cross-sector partnership which works together to achieve common goals not just over the next 12 months but into the future.”

To find out more about Paritor, visit the companyʼs website at www.paritor.com