A Bradford charity is celebrating after being awarded enough Lottery money to continue its work for the next five years.

The Down Syndrome Training and Support Service Ltd, based at The Pamela Sunter Centre in Town Lane, Thackley, has been successful in securing a grant of £382,259 from The Big Lottery Fund.

Group co-ordinator Dr Wendy Uttley said she was delighted the bid had been successful, ensuring the security of the charity.

She said: “The grant of £382,259 will enable us to meet most of our core costs and will make it possible for us to continue offering our services to families across the region – from new parents coping with their child’s diagnosis, to our early education groups with pre-school children, to supporting our school age children as they move through the education system.

“Over the next five years, we will also see our older children, who were babies when the group started, enter their teenage and early adult years.

“With this additional funding we will be able to support them throughout these triumphant and challenging years.”

The money is conditional on the charity raising £38,000 a year, which ‘unlocks’ the grant and Dr Uttley praised the fundraising efforts the charity’s supporters in helping it achieve this.