THE future of a scheme run by a charity which provides support for people with learning difficulties has been secured by a cash injection.

The Chopsticks community gardening scheme, in Northallerton, plans to buy a new van to improve its service throughout the town and the surrounding villages after receiving the financial boost.

The vehicle will be funded by a grant of £7,600 from Help the Aged's SeniorMobility campaign.

Bosses at Chopsticks said the van was urgently needed to transport equipment and staff around the area to the homes of elderly people, and to continue the scheme's visits to an average of 30 houses a week.

The charity provides work activities for people with learning difficulties, and carries out gardening at the homes of elderly people.

The scheme, part-funded by North Yorkshire County Council, is the only one of its kind to reach pensioners living in the villages around Northallerton.

Colin Walker, development manager of Chopsticks, said: "We are very pleased that Help the Aged has provided us with the means to purchase this new vehicle.

"We rely on our van to reach the older people living in the rural areas of North Yorkshire, and to bring them increased health and social benefits by improving their living environment and helping them stay in their own homes without having to worry about keeping the garden maintained.

"It was something we needed urgently. We only had an old Renault minibus before that, which didn't pass its MoT, so the scheme would have failed if we hadn't got the grant."

Graham Lale, SeniorMobility's campaign manager, said yesterday: "We are delighted to be able to help Chopsticks with the purchase of this new vehicle."

The SeniorMobility campaign aids community projects throughout the country with their transport needs by offering grants and fundraising advice.

Any local projects that are interested in applying for grant aid are asked to contact Graham Lale, on (0207) 2391825.