A Topsham charity is celebrating after being handed a major national award.

Devon in Sight received a Special Initiative Award at the Visionary charity conference in York for its outstanding work throughout the year.

Among the charity’s achievements in 2011 has been the opening of a new resource centre and starting a new range of activity session, including bowling, photography and computing.

The charity had originally been shortlisted for the Innovation in Service Delivery award, however the charity’s staff were surprised to be told during the ceremony itself that they would in fact be handed the newly created special award.

They received the award from 2006 Apprentice finalist Ruth Badger, who presented it to newly appointed resource centre manager Katherine Charman and resource centre advisor Colin Hoskins.

Katherine said: “The award is a real acknowledgement of all the hard work done by so many people – staff, volunteers and trustees – to re-launch the charity.

The charity’s director of services Martin Pallett said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this unexpected and very welcome award from a high profile charitable organisation.

“The award represents strong national recognition of the work the charity has undertaken over the last year to re-launch and redevelop itself.”

Following Devon in Sight’s award win, people are being encouraged to support its work by signing up to a new membership scheme, which costs �12 a year, or �10 by direct debit, and includes a quarterly magazine about the charity’s work.

For more information on membership call (01392) 876666.