A CHARITY group is celebrating after receiving a grant of nearly £9,000 from the National Lottery.

The award will put the Oxford and district branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society on a firm footing for the future.

The money from the Lottery’s Awards for All scheme - £8,708 – will be used to finance the group’s monthly open days which are held at Abingdon for those with MS and their carers.

Read also: Do you know this woman? CCTV released after Marks & Spencer purse theft

Co-ordinator John Chipperfield said everyone was delighted with the award.

He said: “Officials from the national society came to our open day in September and were so impressed with what we were doing they suggested we should apply for a Lottery grant.

“I was in Australia at the time, so all the credit goes to my colleagues who help run the group.”

The open days are held on the first Friday on the month at the Northcourt Centre in Northcourt Road, Abingdon.

Between 20 and 40 people with MS and carers attend and are entertained by speakers or musicians or take part in a craft workshop in the morning.

After lunch, various therapies – reflexology, massage and podiatry – are offered, and there is plenty of time to sit, chat and socialise over a cup of tea and slice of cake.

Mr Chipperfield said: “Everyone seems to like the format. For some people, it is a rare opportunity to get out of their homes and enjoy other people’s company.

Read also: Get ice cream delivered to your door in lockdown

“Our open days cost us between £600 and £700 each time and the grant means that we will be able to continue and possibly even expand our activities.

“Our group, which is run entirely by volunteers, relies on money we raise ourselves from collections and from donations, so the Lottery grant is very welcome.

“We will discuss our future plans when the coronavirus emergency is over and we are able to resume our programme.”

The Oxford group of the MS Society covers an area of the county from Wantage in the south west to Bicester in the north east, and has recently taken over the Thame area after the closure of the Aylesbury branch.

There are two other MS groups in Oxfordshire, covering West Oxfordshire and Banbury.

Read also: Latest court results for Oxfordshire

The MS Society raises and spends millions of pounds on research into MS, but as yet, there is no cure.

It is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.

It is a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can be mild in some people.

In many cases, it is possible to treat sufferers' symptoms with medication or therapies, however average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS.

It is most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age.

It is two to three times more common in women than men.

Find out more about how the the MS Society funds research and its local support groups online at mssociety.org.uk