A FIRE-wrecked social club is set to rise from the ashes after campaigners won big cash donations.

Dean Court Community Centre landed a £20,000 grant from the community- and charity-sector umbrella group, the Oxfordshire Stronger Communities Alliance (Osca), and £1,000 from Cumnor Parish Council.

The parish council grant allowed it to employ architect Dan Jones to draw up plans for the renovated building.

Forty firefighters tackled the fire at the social club, in Pinnocks Way, Dean Court, on Monday, February 28.

It had closed in May last year due to cash flow problems but its management team was fundraising to try to open again at the time of the fire.

Management team chairman Anna Pearson said: “The grant is fantastic news.

“We have been working hard to get this project up and running and are delighted that Osca have shown such faith in us despite the recent set-back to our plans.

“We hope that this will inspire others to join us in creating a community centre for Dean Court.”

Ms Pearson added: “I think particularly after the fire, a lot of people thought the community centre might not go ahead but it’s not thwarted the dream for us.

“Having this support from Osca means a lot to us and is a boost to our campaign to get it open.”

The centre would become a venue for community events, from games evenings and dance classes to poetry classes and live music, supporters hope.

Mr Jones said: “Although this is a terrible thing to have happened, I think it could be a turning point for the building itself.”

Osca chief executive Alison Baxter said: “The members of Osca are delighted to be able to offer funding to a range of valuable community initiatives across the county.”

Thames Valley Police said the results of an investigation into the cause of the fire had proved inconclusive but that some pipework and radiators were stolen from the building on the night of the