The launch celebration was marked with speeches from John Holmes, Chair of CharterPlus, Harj Lota, Charter Community Housing Managing Director, and Jill Edge, Manager of the Sunshine Centre, before a cake cutting ceremony in front of the watching guests.

The Sunshine Centre is the first group in the community to see the benefits of a grant from CharterPlus after receiving £50,000 towards funding the cost of two new family support workers at the centre.

Tony Baldry MP for North Oxfordshire said: "This is hugely significant for local charities and the community.

"Charter has managed to turn the Sunshine Centre’s vision for family support workers into a reality and there are other voluntary groups in Oxfordshire who could benefit from this new and valuable source of funding."

Jill Edge added: "The Sunshine Centre aims to provide easily accessible services in response to local need for children and their families.

"To enable us to do this we are consistently seeking resources and the funding received from CharterPlus has made a real difference to empowering and enabling children and their families to move towards meeting their full potential."

CharterPlus is keen to support local initiatives and services and funding application packs are available from charterplus@sanctuary-housing.co.uk or by calling 0845 009 2500.