PEOPLE who have learning disabilities are to benefit from a new community hub for the county, created thanks to £35,000 of funding.

Charity Yellow Submarine was awarded the money from NatWest’s Skills and Opportunities fund, which supports good causes in communities.

It will be used to provide work and training at the charity’s new social enterprise cafe and centre, which opened at Witney’s Windrush Leisure Centre on July 7.

The charity was one of 15 regional finalists shortlisted in NatWest’s national competition, with people voting online for their favourite cause.

Toby Staveley, the chief executive of Yellow Submarine, said: “This funding is an enormous boost. Everyone involved is so excited, as this will make a huge difference to a group of enthusiastic people who want to work but are desperately short of opportunities.”

The Park End Street charity works with young people and adults with special needs and learning disabilities, supporting them with training, employment and activities including residential holidays, weekly social clubs and sports days.

A team of more than 75 volunteers and staff worked with about 200 county families last year, providing 24,000 hours of support and respite.

The charity, which was launched in 2009, was shortlisted for the online public vote after NatWest received more than 1,000 applications from good causes in the Midlands and the east of England.

Judges, who helped select winners to receive a share of more than £1m, praised the charity for its “strong track record” and variety of activities provided for young people.

Yellow Submarine head of finance and compliance Kate Sankey said: “To know that we had such support from the local community was just fantastic.

“Our staff, our volunteers and our members will be utterly thrilled that we are being given this opportunity and this level of support. £35,000 to us is an amazing amount of money.”

The Witney cafe will provide traineeships and apprenticeships for young people and adults in West Oxfordshire.

Funding will also help the charity run its Compass Project, which provides work experience for adults within its cafes.

The sum comes two years after the charity opened its Oxford cafe, which has since had 45,000 customers through its doors.

The Park End Street cafe has been rated the top destination in the city for coffee and tea lovers on review website TripAdvisor, as well as the second best place to eat in Oxford.

Miss Sankey said: “Lots of young adults with learning disabilities leave school without the necessary life skills to get on with life.We are there to help bridge that gap. We are able to open up so many doors and opportunities for them.”