A "FANTASTIC" windfall of nearly £300,000 has been granted to Arts at the Old Fire Station to keep up its work supporting Oxford's homeless.

The organisation is one of four in Oxfordshire to have benefitted from a fresh round of Big Lottery grants to support those most in need.

Following a gruelling application process that took nearly a year, staff were told about 10 days ago that £282,803 had been granted to its 'Space for Change' project.

Director Jeremy Spafford said: "I was on holiday and I got a text message from one of my colleagues saying we had won. I am absolutely delighted; It's fantastic."

Getting the funds secured, he said, had been "lengthy" and "very competitive", with staff beginning their preparations for the first round last summer.

It marks the first time Arts at the Old Fire Station, which was set up in February 2011, has been backed by the Big Lottery Fund.

Mr Spafford said: "We are a professional arts centre doing lots for the public to enjoy, but we also include homeless people in that activity, collaborating with Crisis.

"This funding will enable homeless people to be part of our team, volunteer in front of house and be trainees, gaining skills that will allow them back into jobs."

Roughly 120 homeless people from across Oxfordshire are supported by Arts at the Old Fire Station each year, generally after visiting next-door charity Crisis for support.

As well as boosting their employable skills, participants also have the chance for hands-on involvement in art installations and theatre at the George Street venue.

Mr Spafford said: "People come in with a big label on their head saying 'I'm a homeless person'. It's easy to get yourself into a spiral of despair when you're in that situation, and we are here to offer a bit of hope.

"While they're here, they can do activities that make them see themselves as volunteers making a contribution. That transformation is really important and it's a joy to watch people rediscover their talents."

Elsewhere the Wychwoods Day Centre in Chipping Norton has received £1,000 to run a 'Remembering Happy Times Through Music' workshop for people with dementia.

A further £9,980 was granted to refurbish the Asthall Leigh Memorial Hall in Witney and £9,900 was allocated to Parks Tennis CIC to provide free sports and physical activity sessions to communities across Oxford.

Big Lottery Fund England grant making director Lyn Cole said: "So many local organisations are enabling people and communities to grow together, bringing positive changes to lives and futures. It’s wonderful to hear the stories of how through these great projects people have overcome barriers, learned new skills and improved their lives."