STAFF at an Oxford hospice were given 70,000 special reasons to celebrate this month.

Sobell House Hospice has received £70,951 from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for a new minibus driver over the next three years.

The minibus service will bring terminally-ill patients from across Oxfordshire to the hospice’s daily drop-in centre.

Head of fundraising Kath Morris said: “This will be an invaluable addition.

“It’s all about people being able to drop into our day centre, being able to talk to people who are in the same situation and get access to support staff and doctors.”

The day centre at the hospice, on the Churchill Hospital site in Headington, has been open since the 1980s and deals with hundreds of patients every year.

It was refurbished in February.

Ms Morris said: “The Lottery grant has been the final piece of the jigsaw.

“We have refurbished the day centre to provide new services and we were able to raise the money for a new van, so the fantastic news from the Big Lottery about the grant means that the service will be complete.”

Until now, the scheme has been run by about 12 volunteer drivers, but their average age is 70 and some were finding it difficult to manoeuvre wheelchair patients.

Ms Morris said: “Sometimes when people are coping with life-limiting illnesses, they can be isolated and at home on their own.This bus will be out in communities across the county, getting them involved. It is about stopping the isolation for people struggling on their own.”

The bus can carry four patients including three in wheelchairs, or six patients without wheelchairs, and will work alongside the old van.

Ron Stuart, who co-ordinates the volunteer drivers, said: “This gives us more flexibility. Where we are struggling is getting wheelchair patients in, because of a lack of drivers.

“A new driver immediately gives us more availability, and it’s for the next three years.

“It just means we can help more people.”

Jac Becker, nurse manager at the day centre, said: “Patients often miss out on some of the services we provide, because they are unable to travel under their own steam.

“This is fantastic news. We now hope that many more patients will enjoy the wonderful therapies and treatments that are available at Sobell House.”

It is hoped the new driver and minibus will be on the road by the end of May.

Other Oxford organisations to get Lottery cash were: Ignite Creative Ltd, Ucare, Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee and the Ace Centre Advisory Trust.