Published: Thursday, 13th August, 2009 5:00am

Three more years of graft

by Rose Harland

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A CASH-starved charity was preparing for its final week before closing forever when a bumper National Lottery grant arrived to save the day.

The future of Graft, which for five years has helped people with disabilities find jobs and training, is now secure for three years after getting £276,591 through the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme.

Jubilant Polly Falconer, chairwoman of the trustees, said: "We can't believe it. We had issued redundancy notices to all the staff. We had just got to the end and then we got this phone call. We were absolutely delighted."

The charity learned in March that its Reading Borough Council funding could not be renewed and immediately applied to the lottery. The three staff were due to leave at the end of last month when the news - embargoed until Tuesday - came through, but now the charity hopes to increase its payroll to five.

Graft is based in the Thames Tower opposite Reading Railway Station and helps around 240 people with learning difficulties, mental health problems and other disabilities. It also works with employers to help them support disabled staff.

Mrs Falconer said: "The majority of people with disabilities don't want to be

living off benefits. They want to be able to earn money themselves and contribute to the economy."

The lottery money will be used to expand the charity's work to include ex-offenders, the over-50s and other groups.

Call 0118 950 4515 or visit www.graft.org.uk