A CHARITY which provides a lifeline to young drug addicts can get back on the road - thanks to an extra-special donation from your Argus.

Every year we invite community organisations to apply for grants from the charitable arm of our American parent company, Gannett.

Newport-based Teen Challenge was among those who made a bid for cash this year and it asked for the maximum grant of £5,000.

But co-ordinator Caroline Johnson was delighted when we were able to tell her that the Gannett Foundation had decided to award the organisation a whopping £15,000.

"I feel overwhelmed," she said.

She applied for the grant to go towards the cost of replacing Teen Challenge's broken-down mobile coffee bus which was used to help disadvantaged youngsters around the city for a decade.

Now they will be able to buy a new bus and get to the young people and adults with drug addiction and anti-social behaviour issues. It is also used to visit local schools to educate children about drug misuse.

"The bus is important as it gets us into local areas. We haven't been able to go since November," said Ms Johnson.

It will cost more than £20,000 to buy the bus, which will then be refurbished by the group, and they had just £5,000 towards it - thanks to donations from the Shrievalty Trust and Gwent Police - until today.

Teen Challenge also has residential rehabilitation programmes throughout the UK and trains volunteers to work with clients.

Last year, we brought you the stories of some former addicts whose lives were turned around after they were helped by Teen Challenge.

The Argus is part of the Newsquest group which is owned by Gannett. Its Foundation provides funding to support organisations in areas where Newsquest operates in the UK.

Grants are normally between £1,000 and £5,000 but larger grants may be made for exceptional projects.

Maes Ebbw School in Newport received a grant of £3,000 in this latest round of donations towards their new minibus.

In her application Jeannie Mills, chairwoman of the PTA, said all the pupils, who are aged between two and 19, had learning difficulties and many were also in wheelchairs. "The school aims to assist its pupils to integrate into society and to achieve this pupils are regularly taken on field trips and excursions," she said.

Deputy head teacher Mark Evans welcomed the news that their application was successful. "We are chuffed to bits. The minibus is exceptionally important. It encourages our youngsters to get out and use the wider community."