THE Wilberforce Trust in York is celebrating after receiving a £5,000 grant from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.

The trust provides supported housing, training and rehabilitation services, as well as access to educational and leisure activities in the community, to people with visual impairments and other disabilities.

The grant will contribute towards the cost of a vehicle adapted for wheelchair access, so that a chair can be wheeled into the back. "The tenants are keen to increase their independence and this car will enable many trips out, without having to use a cumbersome minibus," said Barbara Kendall, fundraising co-ordinator for the Wilberforce Trust.

Kevin Britain, senior branch manager at Lloyds TSB in Acomb, said: "The Wilberforce Trust has been going through some changes recently to meet increasingly stringent care standards, and we hope to see it going from strength to strength."

Updated: 08:45 Wednesday, June 04, 2003