CHRISTMAS came early for staff and volunteers at Winchcombe Day Care Centre after landing a £3,000 windfall in a community grant scheme.

The Langley Road Day Centre polled 31 per cent of the votes in the recent Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2013 competition which secured them a second place win and their funding boost.

The money will go towards providing a music and movement programme for day centre members aimed at improving co-ordination, stimulating the brain and helping prevent falls and injuries.

More than 2.3 million votes were cast by the public for their favourite good cause – an overwhelming response to the 2013 Lloyds Bank Community Fund and the 1,332 good causes shortlisted in England and Wales Carol Baker, day centre manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the amount of votes we received, it amounts to more than 1,700 votes made either online, in person or by text and we are overwhelmed that so many people were kind enough to support us.

“We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and also to Helen Chandler of the Lloyds Bank Winchcombe branch, who nominated the Centre for the grant in the first place.”

The Centre, which provides day care support for the town’s elderly and frail, had a large chunk of its public sector funding cut this year and is now heavily reliant on donations and fundraising.

Mrs Baker said: “The grant means we can pay for one of our staff to go on a ‘mind-song’ course which will qualify her to lead the music programme which will run weekly, on a three week cycle.

“It will cater for all members, irrespective of which day they attend the centre, and will be a great addition to the activities we already offer.

“Above all will be good for the general health, mobility and well-being of our members,” she added.

Winchcombe School was also awarded £300 in the grant scheme.