A COMMUNITY support group has has been able to improve its facilities thanks to two grants.

Gateway into the Community, based on St Mary’s Chare, Hexham, provides learning support, social and leisure services to people with special needs.

And since the charity moved into the premises last year due to growing demand, it has expanded rapidly.

In a bid to improve the on-site kitchen and bathroom facilities, day service manager Sharyn Castelow and Rachel Lowes delivered a presentation to local community grant supporter, Tynedale Lions.

John Hill, president of Tynedale Lions, said: “We invited Gateway to submit an application to be a major beneficiary recipient, and we were quickly fully on board with their plans and donated £7,000.”

And Gateway also benefited from a EU LEADER grant of £22,810.

LEADER is a community led approach to delivering EU funding into rural development and communities, and is part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

Mike Murray, a long-standing member of the Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group, is part of the group of volunteers who made the funding decision.

He said: “I discovered artwork at the Forum Cinema designed by Gateway members and immediately researched what they do.

“I spoke to our LEADER programme officer and saw this as a great opportunity to help them out.”

Sharyn added: “We’re always looking to expand and new ways to change.

“It’s not just the kitchen, but we also need the facilities to go into the wider community to deliver our support programmes.

“We would also like to thank our admin officer Gabby Keaveny and contractor Richard Lee who played a vital role in ensuring this could happen.”