A Suffolk disability advice service has secured a £300,000 funding pot from The National Lottery's Reaching Communities Fund

Disability Advice North East Suffolk (DANES), based on Rotterdam Road, Lowestoft, will be granted the funds over a five-year period to enhance its offerings for disabled individuals in the region.

Having been in operation since 1986, DANES has been a vital source of support and counsel for people with any form of disability or health condition that alters their daily life.

Trish Riches, the service's manager,  said: “We are delighted with this news, it will enable us to do far more than we have been able to in the past.

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"This award, spread over five years, gives us financial peace of mind."

This funding follows a recent series of renovations at DANES’ premises, which was enabled by grants from Lowestoft Town Council, East Suffolk Councillors, Norton Peskett Solicitors and the Morrisons Community fund.

Now, with three times the space it previously had, DANES will increase its scope of services as a result of this funding.

It plans to introduce a variety of activities such as basic IT lessons, seated exercise classes, slow cooking workshops, or simply offering a space for individuals to share concerns.

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Furthermore, the grant will allow DANES to employ a new team member to manage rising demand, ensuring their essential service remains accessible to those who need it.

Ms Riches said: “We want this to become a community hub for those with a disability and their carers - a safe space to join in groups and classes or simply pop along for a coffee and biscuit to meet up with others."

Thriving on helping disabled individuals become more self-reliant, DANES aims to help their clients feel more equipped to tackle whatever life throws their way.