A CHARITY is celebrating after being handed a cheque for £1,000.

Chrysalis Tynedale, which is based at the Torch Centre in Hexham, received the money after being chosen as one of the main beneficiaries of this year’s Haydon Bridge Festival.

The charity’s co-ordinator, Lola Plumb said that the money would make a huge difference to the charity’s work.

She said: “When they presented it they said they were worried it might not have been enough, but for us it’s a huge amount.

“We’re really grateful for all donations, we often get them from local churches and community groups who give two or three hundred pounds a time.

“£1,000 will make a huge difference to what we do.

“We have a lot of initiatives at the moment. One of them is we subsidise trips. We try to provide one trip a month for members.

“We’ve been to the Sage in Gateshead for a dementia friendly concert and we’ve been to the seaside for fish and chips.

“The cost of the coach alone means members can’t afford it, so that money will ensure that these trips will go on for another year.”

Chrysalis provides an activity club for people with dementia and ongoing memory problems, as well as supporting their families, friends, and support workers.