NATIONAL lottery funding for an Ipswich charity means a special scheme helping people with brain injuries can carry on for the next three years.Headway Ipswich and Suffolk opened woodwork and IT departments to help people overcoming head injuries raise their self-esteem and in many cases get back to work.

NATIONAL lottery funding for an Ipswich charity means a special scheme helping people with brain injuries can carry on for the next three years.

Headway Ipswich and Suffolk opened woodwork and IT departments to help people overcoming head injuries raise their self-esteem and in many cases get back to work.

The departments have now been given a grant for £79,000, which means they can now keep going.

Helen Fairweather, manager of the charity, said that three years ago a grant enabled them to set up the purpose built workshop for the woodwork department, which was designed by instructors and some of the people using Headway House.

The employment of a qualified woodwork instructor who also has training in working with people with brain injuries means that the department are able to produce articles of quality garden furnishing which they are then able to sell to the public and raise more money to fund the department.

The IT department has a number of computers which allows the qualified IT instructor to help attendees come to understand spreadsheets, word processing and art and design on the computer. Some of the attendees have progressed so far that they are able to gain voluntary work or paid work in the community.

Ms Fairweather said: "It was a huge relief to know we had got the grant.

"It means that two posts are secure and we can keep the departments running."

Anyone wanting to find out more about Headway's work or to act as a volunteer are encouraged to telephone Headway House on 01473 704159 or to call in at their office at North Zone, Ipswich Hospital.