Race against time to find £50k for specialist centre in Alcester
AN appeal has been launched to raise £50,000 for a unique day care centre for adults with disabilities in Alcester.
As reported in the Herald in January, the centre will be one of the few of its kind in the country and was given the go ahead after Warwickshire Country Council approved a proposal to lease the Old Library building to a community interest company, Faces for All from the Alcester area after 12 months of negotiations. Alcester Town Council also played an integral part in the decision-making process.
Tara Parker, director of Faces for All wants to build a forever day service for young adults with disabilities, like her daughter Abigail, so they have a place for disabled day care provision on their doorstep. Unfortunately, funding for the project has hit a setback which is why an appeal has been launched.
Tara told the Herald: “We formed a community interest company and managed to persuade Warwickshire County Council to remove the library from the disposals list and transfer to Faces For All at a significant discount in order to maintain the space as a community day provision for young adults with profound disabilities.
We made an Expression of InterestOI to Central Governments Community Ownership Fund under the Levelling up communities grant scheme. Unfortunately, we didn’t meet the minimum criteria for the fund as despite having raised £150,000 matched funding they required £200,000. So, the £800,000 we have had potentially approved cannot now be granted unless we find the additional £50,000. It’s hugely disappointing because we have worked so hard and will continue to do so to get the matched funding in place.”
At present 100 per cent of South Warwickshire residents with profound and multiple learning disabilities have to re-locate to another area to access any 24/7 care agenda facilities, Tara says she “cannot think of a more compelling reason to try and offer a service within our locality to try and prevent the loss of a whole sector of our society. Without a proper 24/7 care agenda, people are forced to place their young adults in provisions away from their own homes, their families, friends and their community.”
She’s convinced the funding set back will be overcome.
Tara said: “We have to reapply for the funds by 10th April and this is the fourth and final year of this fund and they have now reduced it to two windows in April and May. So, the time to raise funds is limited and urgent. We have applied to Stratford District council for UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding. We have set up a crowd funder and also a prize draw and are appealing for any local charities or donors to step in.”
Faces for All seeks to develop a facility into a day centre which brings much needed support, care and therapeutic input to high need individuals in the heart of Alcester. There is no such facility currently available within a one-hour drive radius. The facility will serve as a location which offers a weekday opportunity for high need individuals to attend, and will offer: hydrotherapy, fully accessible to all disabilities, equipment ie hoists to support the highest level of need, social activities, educational programs and vocational training
For more information and to support the project: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/building-faces-for-all
For the prize draw: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/win-a-weeks-holiday-at-windmill-barns
