A LLANDRINDOD Wells-based charity which supports people affected by cancer is celebrating a funding boost of almost half a million pounds.

The Bracken Trust will receive £499,964 from the National Lottery Community Fund over the next five years which will be used to expand its services.

The grant will develop ‘Wellbeing and Community Support Services’. This will involve the delivery of services from two community ‘hubs’ based at Knighton and Llanidloes; an at home and telephone support service which runs five days a week and the support provided for volunteers will also be improved.

Reg Cawthorne, chairman of the trust said: “This is a very exciting time for the trust and we are looking forward to implementing these services within the next few months.

“We hope everyone will continue to support us in our mission to provide the highest standard of service to those affected by cancer. Our patient numbers continue to rise, and we are now supporting 265 patients.”

Guy Jones, who assessed the Bracken Trust’s project for The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We were impressed with how the trust worked with the people who will benefit, to design the project they applied for.The trust can draw on their experience to successfully deliver their plans to offer more support to cancer sufferers including offering an ‘at home support and a telephone service’.

“I am looking forward to seeing how the project develops over the next five years.”

The lottery funding will go a long way to assisting the trust in providing these services; however, given that the trust receives no statutory funding from the Welsh Assembly, the health board or county council, it will continue to rely upon local fundraising support.