AN OSWESTRY charity has been awarded a five-figure grant to help with costs of refurbishing its accommodation for people with life-changing disabilities.

The Ethos Group, which runs the three bungalows in Oswestry where people are supported to live independently again, has been granted £40,000 from the Wolfson Foundation.

People live in the bungalows after suffering an injury or illness which has resulted in them needing a wheelchair.

The grant will be used to refurbish three bedrooms and communal areas in one of the properties.

The news follows donations from several other trusts and foundations towards the overall improvement work.

Fae Dromgool, chief executive of Ethos Group, gave thanks to the foundation on behalf of the charity.

She said: “This is excellent news for us and we are extremely grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for the grant – it will go a long way to achieving the goals we’ve set for our refurbishment.

“It will enable us to renovate the bedrooms and communal areas in one bungalow - and we may also be in a position to buy another turning bed.

“It’s all part of the wider project to refurbish areas in two properties costing more than £100,000 in total.”

Fae explained that the charity’s specialist accommodation is currently under strict lockdown to protect clients from COVID-19 .

“It means we will not be able to start our refurbishment work until those are lifted,” she explained.

“The safety of our clients and staff is paramount so that may take some time, but we now have funding in place to be able to start planning for the work.”

She added that the charity had already received a number of donations towards the refurbishment project, and they are very grateful for any help received.

She said: “We are humbled by everyone’s generosity – it really is very much appreciated.

“We are committed to providing the best environment for our clients who are facing up to some of the most difficult challenges of their life as well as the difficulties created by the coronavirus outbreak.”

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive officer of the Wolfson Foundation, added: “This grant recognises the quality of the project and we hope that it not only acts as an endorsement of your activities but may also help secure additional funds from other sources.”

The Wolfson, which was founded in 1955, has awarded more than £900m to over 11,000 projects across the UK.