A first aid charity is celebrating after being given a major financial boost.

The Big Lottery has awarded a grant of £181,497 to the Sussex St John Ambulance for its homeless service in Hastings and St Leonards.

The money will be used to support the charity's drop-in clinic at the Seaview Centre in Hatherley Road, St Leonards, until 2010.

The clinic, which started in November 2003, provides healthcare and podiatry services to homeless and vulnerably housed people.

It is open three days a week, Monday, Thursday and Friday and operated by a team of 14 volunteers, supplemented by a podiatrist on Thursdays.

In 2006, the service recorded 1,434 client consultations with its trained volunteers.

Medical problems seen at the clinic range from wound care, to social, drug and alcohol related issues.

Those benefiting are people living in poverty, sub-standard accommodation or on the street who are given medical advice, treatment and access to appropriate mainstream services.

There is no other equivalent service operating in Hastings.

Homeless service manager Miriam Mitchell said: "The funding is good news for people in need and to our volunteers who contribute so much of their expertise."

Charity fund-raiser Paul Skelly said: "We are delighted to receive this grant from the lottery which will help St John Ambulance Sussex continue to develop this project." St John Ambulance chief executive Janet Pattisson, Hastings mayor Maureen Charlesworth, Seaview Centre chief executive John Evans and the homeless service team will gather for an official announcement on the award tomorrow.