Jobs and services at an advice centre for the elderly have been saved at the last minute thanks to a £146,000 cash boost from the National Lottery.
Redundancy letters had already been sent out to staff at the South East Essex Advocacy, in London Road, Westcliff, as centre bosses prepared for the worst.
But the grant - which will be spread over the next three years - arrived just in time.
Pat Babbington, service co-ordinator at the centre, said: "The redundancy letters had already been sent and the future looked gloomy.
"I even had a letter informing me I was out of a job.
"But then we heard from the National Lottery that we had been successful and the money arrived just when we feared jobs would be lost and services cut".
Bosses at the drop-in centre, which helps over 60s with benefit queries and a range of other problems, were successful with their second application to the National Lottery after first being turned down last year for a grant.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. Contact staff on 01702 340566.
Published Thursday, May 29, 2003
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