A FAMILY want to thank a Didcot charity for giving their Dad his "independence back".

Kevin Devaney, 46, suffered a stroke last year which left him paralysed down his left side.

The grandfather of six was reliant on family and friends to push him in his wheelchair but now Changing Lives have bought him a motorised scooter.

His wife Tina Devaney told The Herald: "We just want to say thank you to Changing Lives.

"They got him a motorised scooter and it really has made such a big difference for him.

"He got it delivered last week and he has been out and about on it ever since - he absolutely loves it."

Mrs Devaney, 45, said before the stroke her husband, who was a cable puller, spent a great deal of his time outdoors.

She added: "Now with the motorised scooter he can just go off on his own.

"He was always out walking about before his stroke and then afterwards he was been trapped in doors.

"Now I haven't really seen him, he just goes off and it has been nice for him to get out without having to have someone push him in a wheelchair.

"He is still getting used to it all but he has been going round the block a few times on it and it has been great to see him get his confidence back.

"Without Changing Lives we just wouldn't have been able to get him this motorised scooter."

Val Prior, owner of the charity in the Broadway, said she was delighted to be able to help the family.

She said: "This is what Changing Lives is all about, a little help which makes a huge difference to families in the area.

"I am so pleased Kevin and his family feel he has got his independence back and we hope this will help on his road to recovery."

Recently the charity's former accountant Tracey Pearson, 46, of Gaveston Road, was handed a suspended jail term after stealing £24,000 over a year from the organisation.

Ms Prior added: "Although we were devastated by what happened, we couldn't stop helping people.

"We've put it behind us now and we just want to continue what we are doing and help as many people as we can.

"At the end of last month we bought two wheelchairs one for a disabled gentleman and a elderly lady who suffered a stroke.

"We also helped a lady recovering from lung cancer and a family who needed children's clothes and toys."

In June the charity also helped a homeless person furnish their new home and is now helping a family go on holiday.