A SWINDON charity that supports people with learning difficulties has been saved from closure at the 11th hour.

Swindon Advocacy Movement has been operating from the Health Hydro, in Milton Road, since it was founded with National Lottery cash in 1995.

But in recent months the charity seemed doomed because of a lack of funding.

It had just enough cash to operate until this month.

Now SAM's co-ordinator Diana Thomas is celebrating after Swindon Council told her the charity would be given funding for the next three years.

Diana, 28, said: "This is a huge relief. It is great that they have realised the work we are doing is needed.

"The last few months have been very worrying.We haven't finalised how much we will get from the council yet but the money should be with us in April.

"They have said it will be for three years for the work we are already carrying out.

"This includes one-to-one citizen

advocacy with volunteers, crisis advocacy and the service for parents with a learning difficulty.

"I am now able to recruit two more staff, a new administration worker and a full-time citizen advocacy worker."

The charity works with adults with learning disabilities to help them understand their rights and to speak up for themselves.

Diana said that she had been left in the dark as to the future of the charity in spite of writing about 100 letters to different council departments over the last few months.

She said: "It would have been a huge loss to Swindon.

"There is nowhere else around here that offers anything like this service.

"We help with crisis situations such as homelessness, going to court, debts, employment and we run a parents' service to help with issues such as child protection proceedings.

"We had to give our notice on the lease so now we are looking for somewhere else to operate from."

SAM needs £75,000 a year for running costs. Last year it received 71 new referrals, mainly from social services, as well as the existing clients. In all the charity helped 160 people last year.

Graham Pearson, Swindon Council's assistant director of adult services, said: "We are happy to confirm social services has reached an agreement with the Swindon Advocacy Movement to ensure the service continues to support people with learning disability.

"We look forward to continued partnership working with this important voluntary organisation in delivering services locally."

Alex Emery