A CHILDREN'S centre which offers vital care to vulnerable children is to create a communal garden in the outside area of its premises.

Tunza's Pride, based on Boundary Road, which was opened by the charity's founder Ian Smith, helps vulnerable children in the area.

A planning application was submitted in April seeking permission to create a communal garden to offer an outside area at the premises in order to expand the charity's offerings.

The proposals state the communal area will "transform our centre and offer an outdoor space to run vital projects aimed at increasing community spirit".

Ian added the charity has helped more than 1,500 children since 2004 and employs three people, with 20 regular volunteers.

The Tunza Centre is used to help young people "learn new skills and socialise" with regular activities and special events on weekends and holidays.

On an average week, plans add that more than 100 families attend the centre and three other voluntary organisations also use the centre.

There are meeting rooms and a cafe at the premises, and a music rehearsal room which helps children raise "confidence and self esteem".

In the plans, Ian said centre users were keen to "develop an outdoor garden space in the current large car parking area which would be able to offer extra outdoor-based activities".

The new area is anticipated to host gardening projects, have a space for physical activity, a social seating area and a place to perform music, poetry and dance as well as the opportunity to do arts and crafts in the garden.

Planning officers at the council have given the garden the official nod.