An Oxford toddlers’ group was given 500 reasons to celebrate when they heard about their grant from the Red Nose Day Community Cash fund.

Rainbow House drop-in centre, based in the Wesley Memorial Church in New Inn Hall Street, was given £500 towards new play equipment.

Management chairman Kate Dobson said: “Rainbow House is a kind of cafe for people with children under five. There is no entry fee, people just pay for their refreshments.

“There are lots of toys, so people can meet up to have a chat with their friends while the children play.”

On a busy day, the centre is used by up to 60 families, catered for by 40 volunteers.

Mum-of-three Mrs Dobson said: “All the food is home-made, things like pizza and soup, and that’s very popular. It is a very happy community of volunteers.

“We also have a nappy-changing area and women are free to breast-feed, knowing that no-one will bat an eyelid.

“In fact, one woman told us when we started, that we were the only place in Oxford where she could breastfeed.”

The group was set up in 1985, so last year had a party to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Mrs Dobson said: “We also provide lots of information for new parents about what is available for them in the city, giving them signs to the drop-in centres and places like that.

“Many parents are new at the role, so it can help for them to ask us questions.”

She added: “We are very grateful for the money and it will go to very good use.

“Our only income is from the sale of the refreshments and donations, so this will go a long way for us.”

New co-ordinator Tamsin Burford started at the group last week. The mum-of-three, from Wantage, said: “Getting the money is hugely important. Without these funds we would not be able to replace toys or keep the services the children and parents want and require.

“Everyone has such happiness when they come here and we want to keep up that happiness. It is a tremendous place, there are so many people that return week after week.”

Mum-of-two Lizzie Tully brings her 13-month-old son Henry to the group about twice a month.

The 30-year-old from Wheatley said: “It just gives the children a different environment which is quite important. They have fun when they go there.”

Meanwhile, children and parents at a club for disabled youngsters are celebrating after receiving £1,000 of the Red Nose Community Cash.

The Music Club, based in Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford, is a monthly after-school group that provides access to music and dance.

It aims to support children aged 0-19 with their social, physical and mental development.

Co-founder Sophia Nicholls said: “There are very few after-school activities for people with disabilities, especially in the south Oxfordshire area.

“So we decided to do something about it and started up a music club. Music helps children develop their awareness and social skills.”

Mrs Nicholls said the club had made a big difference to her son Matthew, 15. He is in a wheelchair and suffers from autism.

In its first year, the club has grown from five members to more than 40 families.

Mrs Nicholls said: “I think people would really miss us if we went now. We get a lot of people coming quite long distances.

“Music is the best way to try to get Matthew into this world. He used to get quite frustrated that we couldn’t understand him, but then we started going to music therapy.

“Now we can communicate better with him and he can enjoy very much being part of an after-school activity.”

The group runs sessions with a music specialist. It provides an opportunity for carers to get support from others in the same situation.

More than 100 people enjoyed a fun day last summer and their most recent outing was to see The Jungle Book at the Oxford Playhouse.

Mrs Nicholls said: “Often parents don’t feel like they can go to places like the theatre because our children are a bit unpredictable.

“You might have to run out halfway through, and the theatre costs so much that it feels like a waste of money.

“So we subsidise the trips and when a lot of us go, people feel more comfortable.”

Mrs Nicholls added: “We were really pleased when we found out about the money. It will make a big difference to know that we are able to continue the project.”

Alison Day’s son Felix Baber-Day, nine, right, from Marsh Baldon, has Asperger’s syndrome and goes to the club every month.

She said: “He really enjoys it. It allows him to express himself without feeling that he has got to sit still and cross his legs.” A group aiming to teach people how to make their own bread has received £820.

finally, the Oxford Bread Group makes its own bread, from sowing the grain to selling the finished product.

And now it plans to run sessions teaching other groups how to do the same.

Co-ordinator Sally Lane said: “This all started about three years ago. My husband grows the wheat, growing varieties that haven’t been grown for hundreds of years.

“Various people around the county then sell the bread on.

“It’s all about trying to get people not to eat supermarket bread. It’s all sourced and grown locally too, so it’s low carbon.”

Now the group aims to get the message out to community cafes in the county.

Mrs Lane said: “We are going to have bread-making days at the Cornfield Bakery in Wheatley.

“They will be run specifically for volunteers with mental health difficulties and staff at three community centres in Oxford – Restore, Ark T and the West Oxford Community Centre.

“We were delighted. The money will be used for our education programme, as it is unfortunately a very difficult project to fund.”

Benedict Leigh, chief executive of mental health charity Restore in Manzil Way, East Oxford, said: “We’re delighted to be linking up with the Oxford Bread Group.

“Bread-making is very enjoyable for those suffering mental health problems and the techniques they learn help them to cook.”