A CHARITY based in Kennington is making real headway after a £91,000 grant saved it from having to scale back its work.

Headway Oxfordshire supports people affected by acquired brain injury across the county.

It was awarded the money by the Big Lottery Fund.

Director Jamie Miller said: “It has given us 12 months’ breathing space.

“We’re hugely grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for their continued support, as without this money we would be looking at redundancies.

“If sustainable funding isn’t found within the next 12 months, we could still be looking at winding down the organisation, so we’re still very concerned about the future.”

Set up in 1988, Headway provides activity and rehabilitation for those who have suffered brain injury, as well as further support in the community for things such as finding employment and benefits.

The charity supports more than 400 people per year.

Mr Miller said: “We’re the only organisation offering practical and tangible support across Oxfordshire.

“It’s a hard time to be in the voluntary sector, but we’re continuing to make a real difference to people’s lives and intend on doing so for the foreseeable future.”

He added the money would help the charity continue to influence strategic development within health and social care.

The Big Lottery Fund has decided to hand out an extra year’s funding to 27 of its grant-holders to allow them to get through the current economic squeeze.

A further 60 projects were given funding of up to £10,000 to help them become more sustainable. In total the Big Lottery Fund handed out more than £2.8m.

Spokesman Fiona Dempsie said: “This funding is in response to the concerns of many of our grant-holders in the South East as they struggle to continue their work.

“It gives groups some much-needed time and space to plan for the future, and explore ways of making their projects more sustainable.”

Headway Oxfordshire has a number of fundraising events planned across the year, including several events during Action for Brain Injury week, from May 14–18. For more details, visit headwayoxford.org.uk, call the charity on 01865 326263 or email carole@headway-oxford.co.uk