A CHARITY has won more than a quarter of a million pounds to support people with learning disabilities.

Oxford-based My Life My Choice announced yesterday it has been awarded £261,135 from The Big Lottery Fund.

The investment will be used to expand the organisation's Travel Buddy scheme, which teaches people how to travel independently.

My Life My Choice, which is based in Park End Street and also runs a nightclub for adults with learning disabilities, said the money will allow it to mentor 45 people one-to-one per year on the scheme and provide workshop training to 200 people per year.

A statement published on its website yesterday stated: "The Travel Buddy Scheme has already had a huge impact on people’s lives.

"Everyone at My Life My Choice is really excited by the opportunities this grant will open up for people with learning disabilities and is very thankful to the Big Lottery Fund for helping us to improve people’s lives."

The first part of the project involves one-to-one coaching and mentoring, where an adult with learning disabilities is paid to coach another adult with learning disabilities to travel a particular journey.

The second part involves workshop training, presented by adults with learning disabilities to their peers, to give people the knowledge, skills and confidence to travel independently.

All people with learning disabilities who works on the Travel Buddy Scheme will be paid at least the Oxford Living Wage of £9.69.