Brain injury survivors staying at a groundbreaking rehabilitation centre will be helped on their road to recovery by a specially equipped mini bus provided by local lions.

Keswick Lions has led a successful £25,000 fundraiser campaign to by a mini bus for Calvert Reconnections, which is part of the Lake District Calvert Trust charity.

The local Lions group pledged £8,000 and approaches Cumbria colleagues resulted in Windermere and Ambleside Lions giving £5,000 with Kendal, Grange, Furness and Lancaster Lions all offering smaller amounts.

Calvert Reconnections is a brand new neuro rehabilitation residential centre in Keswick providing programmes for those who have suffered a brain injury.

Based at Grade II listed Tithe Barn, ‘Old Windebrowe’, one-time home of Lakeland’s most famous of poets, William Wordsworth, the centre has developed the country’s first Covid-19 compliant brain injury rehabilitation programme based on outdoor activities and social distancing “because rehab won’t wait”.

Ray Sheldon, project coordinator, said: ““I am personally very proud to co-ordinate this bid and to see how clubs in our district supported have us. I cannot wait to see the fully kitted-out minibus in use.”

Diane Cannon of Keswick Lions said: “We are delighted to support the Calvert Reconnections Centre.

“Our aim was to provide it with a specially-equipped minibus to be used to transport residents and their teams around Keswick and the local area where they can gain invaluable experiences on their road to recovery.”