A CHILDREN’S education charity supported by Sarah Brown, wife of former Dunfermline East MP and prime minister Gordon Brown, has received a £100,000 lotto boost.

Theirworld will be able to support a further 700 Syrian refugees into school, thanks to the award made by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Mrs Brown, founder and president of Theirworld, collected a cheque on Thursday night at People’s Postcode Lottery’s annual charity gala which will allow the charity to help expand an already-successful ‘double-shift schooling’ system.

The £100,000 award will allow Theirworld to help fund and deliver an additional one-year pilot project in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley region, home to many Syrian refugees.

Using existing schools, Theirworld works in tandem with local partners to provide lessons in the mornings to the Lebanese children and Syrian children in the afternoons.

Mrs Brown said: “Thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. This extra funding will enable us to directly support the education of 700 additional Syrian refugee children in Lebanon with vital nutrition and learning materials to help their journey to a brighter future.”

Theirworld has already supported thousands of Syrian refugees into education in Lebanon, with a campaign goal of helping one million children into schools across Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan by the end of 2016.

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, added: “With this vital funding, Theirworld will be able to make a huge difference to the lives of so many vulnerable children in Lebanon and we are proud that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting their efforts.”

To date, Theirworld has received £1,225,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.