MUM of two Debbie Lambert knew she would have big shoes to fill when she took over as manager of Devizes Opportunity Centre but the former Clarks worker is determined to bring her own style to the role.

Ms Lambert, 45, has taken over from Betty Newman who was in the role for 25 years. In Mrs Newman's time it grew from small beginnings in a small building that only opened two and a half days a week to having a modern centre in Belle Vue Road, Devizes and an outreach centre in Tidworth.

The opportunity centre supports children from birth to five with a wide variety of learning difficulties.

Mrs Lambert said: "I knew it was going to be difficult to take over from Betty. She had been here for so many years and did a fantastic job. But I was determined to do it in my own way while retaining the ethos of the centre."

One of the first things she did was to have a new computer system installed. She said: "Technology wasn't really Betty's thing but I wanted to bring it up to date."

Mrs Lambert, who grew up in Winsley and went to St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, joined Clarks Shoes after sixth form and became supervisor in its Bath factory.

In 2008 after taking time out to bring up two children as a single mum she got back into work by volunteering in a nursery. She said: "Volunteering was a great way for me to get back into a work environment. My confidence grew and I was in a good place to get a paid job."

She went to work for The Rise children's centres in Chippenham and later became assistant chief executive officer. of The Rise Trust. She moved briefly into adult care but realised she preferred working with children.

When she saw the job as manager of the opportunity centre advertised she felt it could be the job for her. Mrs Lambert, who lives in Chippenham, said: "As soon as I looked around I felt at home.

"There is fantastic atmosphere here and we are very lucky with the community support. Devizes is a very giving town and I was delighted that so many businesses give their time free of charge. I don't know what we would do without that support."

The centre has to raise around £100,000 a year to go towards grants received from Wiltshire Council but this does not include the goods in kind given by companies.

She said: "If we did not get so much help the running costs would be much higher." She said that money worries were always on her mind and the centre constantly had to be looking for new grant money.

But she loves making a difference to families involved with the centre and seeing children progress. She said: "In this job you can't really plan what you are going to be doing. You might have wanted to get on with something in the office but then a mum will come in who needs to talk and that has to take priority."