Local Hero finalist: Dr Sabine Maguire

Dr Sabine Maguire has dedicated two decades of her life to help create a centre for children and young people with disabilities and developmental difficulties. More than 500 youngsters from Newport, South Monmouthshire and South Torfaen use the Serennu Centre every week.

Thanks to Sabine’s vision and voluntary work with the charity Sparkle they’ve created a place where children can come for medical treatment and leisure facilities, including the only public playground in South Wales designed for children with disabilities. It’s a pioneering project linking parents, local councils, the NHS and charities.

For the families it’s made a “massive difference” – being able to come to one place for all of their appointments as opposed to twenty different locations.

Some of the children may not live into their twenties, and for Sabine it was important that they had a place they could go and just have fun.

Sabine says she’s very touched to be nominated, but feels she's just one small part.