A COMMUNITY group staffed by volunteers has received £1,000 of funding to help their disabled members.

Maldon District Vision Impaired Club received the cheque from Standard reporter Pape Gueye on behalf of the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of publishing group Newsquest.

The funds will pay for specialised magnifying glasses, radios, electronic visual aids, support for transport costs for elderly or immobile members for a year, and support for meeting room rentals from Heybridge Parish Council.

Treasurer Raymond Keitch said: “The funds will be very useful in supporting visual equipment for the members and making a contribution towards ongoing transport and rent costs.

“We are a very small, local charity supporting the social needs of vulnerable members of our local community.

“We meet every two weeks and provide a range of talks, entertainment and social meetings to our members.

“The club also provides a rewarding experience for our range of volunteers.”

Established in 1987, the club supports visually impaired people in the district and has about 25 members.

Most of the members are elderly, often with limited family or other support.

In the past decade, the Gannett Foundation has made grants in the UK of nearly £4million.