Last October the Croydon Hearing Resource Centre lost its Big Lottery Fund funding, which they had been relying on for the past four years.

The team, which serves more than 4,500 people across the borough, refused to give in and its determination to succeed has brought it a potential windfall from the Croydon Guardian.

The charity, which is based in Sanderstead Road, South Croydon, was named this week as the Croydon Champions charity partner.

The organisation is run by three members of staff and countless volunteers who ensure the thousands of hearing-impaired people across Croydon and the surrounding areas are offered the support, advice and information they need.

Development officer Keith Stanley was delighted with the news. He said: "When we received the funding from the Big Lottery Fund four years ago we were able to take on an assessment officer who was able to visit people in their homes and enable us to broaden the charity massively.

"When we lost the funding we were determined to keep the officer on because it has become such an integral part of the service we offer to patients. It would be unfair on the people of Croydon if we were to lose that so we decided we would do everything we could to get that money."

The group, which is moving to new premises, help people who suffer from all kinds of hearing impairment through networking sessions, free loan of equipment, servicing to hearing aids and the provision of free batteries.

All the main services offered are free, which is why they rely on outside support to keep going. Its main source of funding is Croydon Council who pay the centre to carry out assessments on patients.

They have formed close links with Mayday Hearing Centre, Croydon Volunteers for the Blind and the RNID.

The group has been running for almost 25 years and is planning to hold a celebration event next year to mark its silver anniversary.

Mr Stanley added: "It never ceases to amaze me that we grow each year and the fact that we have been going now for almost 25 years is quite something."