A DRUG and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Yarnton has been given a boost after being given a £12,000 donation.

The Ley Community centre has been handed the donation to help fund new accommodation for females on treatment programmes.

It comes from The Shanly Foundation, a charitable arm of property business the Shanly Group, as part of its work supporting charities and groups in the home counties.

Shanly Foundation trustee Tamra Booth said: "The Ley Community centre is doing incredible work to help people across the country overcome problems and turn around their lives.

"We’re very pleased to help fund this residential space, allowing women to feel safe and secure whilst completing their treatment programmes on site."

The Ley Community centre was founded in Yarnton, near Oxford, in 1971 by psychiatrists Bertram Mandlebrote and Peter Agulnik.

It has since helped more than 3,000 people recover from substance addiction.

The money will help support the 26-week programme provided by the centre, with two year aftercare for all residents.

The Ley Community chief executive officer Darren Worthington said: "We are incredibly grateful for the donation.

"We recognise that women often struggle to access and engage in the treatment they need due to past and current issues, particularly where they have experienced severe trauma.

"This dedicated unit will provide them with a safe option that dovetails perfectly with the successful work we do in the broader programme."