A VITAL town charity has been awarded a huge grant from the National Lottery to help with a special project.

The Witham Hub received a National Lottery Community Fund Grant of £250,000 towards its ‘empowering and employing project’. 

Announced at a special ceremony held at the Hub in the Grove Centre, on Friday, October 6, by hub chair of trustees Tina Townsend, the grant will be paid out over the next five years.

It will help the charity become more professional and significantly expand its work in the community.

The event was attended by Braintree Council chairman Diana Garrod, Rachael Luckin from the National Lottery Community Fund, Cadent Gas which supported the funding application, the full board of hub trustees, as well as representatives from a wide range of businesses and charities.

Ms Townsend founded the charity in 2017.

It was created to help people living in Witham and the surrounding area. 

This is achieved by helping to prevent people from becoming socially excluded by relieving their needs and helping them integrate back into society.

Braintree and Witham Times: ALL SMILES: Witham Hub trustees Ian Boorman, Karen Bailey, Tina Townsend and Stuart GullefordALL SMILES: Witham Hub trustees Ian Boorman, Karen Bailey, Tina Townsend and Stuart Gulleford (Image: Stuart Gulleford)

A delighted Ms Townsend said: “I am extremely proud of the hub and its wonderful team for achieving this incredible success, which is a major step forward in our development and history. 

“My particular thanks go to the National Lottery Community Fund for recognising the hub and making it possible for us to employ three new members of staff to support the team here and help so many more people in the community of Witham.”

Council chairman Ms Garrod added: “This wonderful contribution from the National Lottery Community Fund to the Witham Hub will enable them to employ more staff so their project can be expanded. 

“This will help identify where the need is greatest, such as those facing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, and will help anyone experiencing difficulties to navigate their way through these problems. 

“It is the provision of services such as those being offered by the hub that strengthens communities and improves the lives of so many people who would otherwise struggle with life’s ever-increasing pressures.”

For more information, visit withamhub.co.uk.