Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has donated a £2,000 grant to Headway Suffolk as part of funding through the Suffolk Community Foundation.

The charity, which helps rebuild the lives of individuals who have had a stroke, brain injury or other neurological conditions, have used the donation for their Art for the Mature Person Project.

The initiative uses art play to help people regain motor skills, enhance concentration and experience joy.

Helen Fairweather, CEO of Headway Suffolk, said:

“Our primary goal is to preserve lives and facilitate the reconstruction of individuals affected by strokes and brain injuries.

“We are dedicated to providing people with a high quality of life and supporting them in rebuilding their lives.

“Sustaining our art programmes and maintaining centres is crucial to achieving these objectives.

“However, in these challenging times, securing funding has become arduous, and we are incredibly grateful to the generous donors, like Fred. Olsen Cruise lines, who step forward to support our cause.

“These contributions play a vital role in enabling us to carry out our impactful work.”

The charity, which has bases in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Hadleigh, is looking to expand with satellites in towns including Newmarket, Haverhill, Sudbury and Leiston, and eventually to encompass the whole of Suffolk.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines established the Fred. Olsen Community Fund in collaboration with Suffolk Community Foundation last year, thanks to a generous donation from parent company, Bonheur.

This fund was created to support initiatives close to the company’s heart, including maritime organisations, art groups and projects helping local communities.

Sarah Hayward-Jones, Executive Assistant and representative of the Charity Committee at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“Having visited a Headway Suffolk art exhibition recently, it truly showcased the remarkable work of the charity and how it really benefits the individuals being supported.

“Supporting local communities and organisations is very close to our heart – especially when a project involves art as it is well known that Mr Olsen is a huge art lover.

“It is wonderful to see the impact that donations like ours make to these vital projects.”