CASH awarded to an East Oxford charity after almost 40 years of tackling mental health stigmas could help it reach even more sufferers, staff have said.

Restore, in Manzil Way, was handed a £10,000 cash prize after being named as the overall winner of the GSK Impact Awards at London’s Science Museum last week.

It came two months after the charity revealed it was one of ten good causes nationwide which had been named winners of the honour and received £30,000.

Chief executive Martin Realey said the extra £10,000 of funding would now help the charity become “more accessible”.

The 37-year-old, of East Hendred, added: “I feel hugely proud that every day people are making an effort to make the lives of people with mental illness in Oxfordshire more manageable.”

Restore competed against 350 organisations across the country to scoop the award.

It costs £1.4m to run its coaching and recovery services each year, with 30 per cent of the cash coming from fundraising efforts.

The charity said its initial £30,000 of funding would support its day-to-day running costs, including training volunteers, hiring specialist coaches and recovery workers, as well as buying resources such as seeds, tools, craft materials and wood.

But Mr Realey said the extra cash will help increase Restore’s “online presence” and possible rebranding.

The charity was founded in 1977 by Lord Young of Dartington and psychiatrist Dr Peter Agulnik, to provide work and volunteering opportunities to residents with mental health issues.

Last year more than 700 people across the county were supported by the charity.

It provides one-to-one coaching and runs recovery groups in Didcot, Banbury, East Oxford, Littlemore and Cowley.

Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) joined with health charity, The King’s Fund for the awards.

Director of UK Corporate Contributions at GSK Katie Pinnock said: “Restore’s inclusive and collaborative approach demonstrates real commitment to improving service provision and helping overcome stigma in mental health.

“They have been especially recognised for their work, which puts a spotlight on an often overlooked issue that is of growing concern nationally, supporting people with mental ill health to maintain or gain employment.”

Last Saturday, Restore reopened its Saturday service at its garden cafe, in Manzil Way.

It came after the charity changed its opening hours and closed the cafe on Saturdays last November following fewer customers during the colder weather.