THE Evesham Journal has delivered an early Christmas present that will help more people in the Vale get around independently.

Shopmobility at the Riverside Shopping Centre in Evesham will soon be able to buy new scooters or wheelchairs after the charity received a grant for £3,200 from the Gannett Foundation, the charity arm of Gannett Co Inc, which owns the Journal’s publisher Newsquest Media Group.

Earlier this year local charities and organisations were given the chance to apply for funding from Gannett to help improve neighbourhoods or offer support to disadvantaged or disabled people.

This week Evesham Journal deputy editor John Wilson had the pleasure of delivering the good news to Shopmobility.

The money will allow the charity to provide more equipment for people who cannot get around on their own, enabling them to shop and socialise independently.

Tracey Bradshaw, deputy manager of Shopmobility, said: “We were over the moon to receive the grant. The service is extremely important to a lot of people. Colin McCann, who uses our service, was pretty much housebound before he found us. He says we are a lifesaver.

“We were very surprised to receive the grant. We have tried a few places and with the way things are we haven’t been successful.

Even street collections have been poor. It was fantastic to get this money, which will help us get new equipment.”

Mr Wilson said he was delighted to be able help such a worthwhile organisation.

He added: “A good local newspaper supports the community, mostly by helping people understand what is happening in their neighbourhood, highlighting injustices and holding the powers-that-be to account.

“Occasionally we are able to go one step further and offer something more practical.

Such was the case when Shopmobility in Evesham asked for help.”