A NORTH Oxford community association has won vital grant funding to help it keep local groups running for the coming year.

Cutteslowe Community Association, which is based at Cutteslowe Community Centre, in Wren Road, has been allocated £10,000 for 2007/8 by the county council towards core funding which supports community workers.

The money matches a £10,000 grant from the city council, and will pay for two staff to continue running the centre.

Association chairman Sarah Burton said: "Getting core funding is a constant headache.

"Charities like to know that the local councils support their work before committing their funds, so having this funding from the county council, in addition to the £10,000 we receive from the city council, is a huge help in our applications for the rest of the money we need to keep going next year."

The community association provides regular sessions for toddlers, young people, elderly people and teenagers.

Sarah Halsey, 34, from Headington, attends the Flying Start toddlers' group with her daughter Jess, 22 months, and said: "It's a lovely place with a big hall and lots of toys.

"It's a very well run centre and gives me the chance to get out of the house, and have a cup of tea and meet other mums."

Community lunches have also become a regular feature, with local young people preparing and serving the meals to young parents and elderly residents.

There is also outreach work for local families and plans to encourage children to grow vegetables along with a City Farm in Cutteslowe Park.

Jean Fooks, Liberal Democrat city and county councillor for North Oxford, said: "I have been lobbying the county council for some time to provide some funds, following their earlier support which runs out at the end of March.

"This is fantastically good news for the association and for the residents of Cutteslowe, who benefit from the work done by the community workers.

"There is no doubt that North Oxford is a very wealthy area, but there are pockets of deprivation, and at long last Cutteslowe is being recognised as one of those.

"The community association does some fantastic work helping all sorts of community groups, including mums and toddlers, so I am delighted that the county council has been able to find this crucial grant funding."

David Trebilcock, a community worker who has been based at the centre for the past 12 years, said groups like Flying Start for mums and toddlers would be sure to benefit.

He added: "There are mums and toddlers groups, drop-in groups for young people and meals provided for the elderly.

"There are lots of different sections of society using this centre, but without some organisation and direction from community workers like myself, the programme of events might start to fall apart."