A NORTHWICH charity has been awarded almost £10,000 to help fund a Deafness and Dementia Café.

Deafness Support Network has received an award of £9,388 from Chester-based Risk Services (NW) allowing it to run its popular service across Cheshire for a second year.

The café, in London Road, Northwich, helps to break down barriers for individuals and reduces isolation by promoting and encouraging social inclusion.

The grant was part of the company’s annual Aviva Community Fund.

Bob Birchall, chief-executive of Deafness Support Network, said: “We are delighted to receive this money and it will help us to continue to run our successful pop-up cafes.

“Deafness can leave people feeling socially isolated, but our cafes give people a place to meet and chat and help them to understand that they are not alone.”

Deafness Support Network were one of three charities that have been awarded funds from Risk Services (NW).

Chester-based charity Children Today received £5,000 to host a circus-themed Family Fun Day.

The National Communities Resource Centre has also been given a grant £5,000.

The funding for the three charities was made possible because of Risk Services’ close partnership with Aviva which runs an annual Community Fund to support good causes across the UK.

Steve Lowe, managing director of Risk Services, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support these three exceptional charities to the tune of almost £20,000.

“In the case of Children Today, it continues our partnership of last year when they were our chosen Charity of the Year.

“The Aviva Community Fund provides an opportunity each year for brokers to help charities submit applications for crucial funding.

"There is strong competition from good causes across the UK and every application is subjected to rigorous scrutiny.

“We have a number of clients within the charitable sector and part of our commitment to them is looking for opportunities, such as the Community Fund, to provide added value.”