ORGANISERS at the White Horse Day Centre are asking local businesses if they can support the friendship and lunch club for the over 60s, following Wiltshire Council’s plans to remove funding completely for such groups in 2024.
The White Horse Day Centre provides a warm place each week for members to catch up with one another over a home-cooked meal.
The day centre runs every Thursday from 10am to 3pm and, along with the three-course meal, organisers provide a range of popular activities such as quizzes, games and bingo, for £9 a session.
Wiltshire Council made the decision last year to cut all funding to such groups by 50% for 2023, and has plans to remove all funding by 2024 – this will be voted on in February as part of Wiltshire council’s proposed budget.
If voted through, the day centre, which is seen as a lifeline to many who use it, will have to find £6,300 each year. Westbury Town Council stepped in to plug the funding gap left by Wiltshire Council last year, but Sue Ezra, chair of the White Horse Day Centre, says this is not something that they can rely on each year.
The Day Centre has now been awarded a grant from the National Lottery which will help keep the club running in 2024 and halfway through 2025, but the future is still uncertain as organisers say they will have to scramble each year to find the relevant funding.
Speaking to the White Horse News, Sue Ezra said, “Ever since Wiltshire Council made that ridiculous decision to reduce and then completely remove our funding, I have been trying to find appropriate grants, but they are few and far between.
“I’ve managed to secure a small grant from the National Lottery but I can’t keep applying there every year – it just gives me the time to look at potential funding options. It was so lovely to get that support from the town council last year, but this isn’t something we can rely on each year.
“It can be quite stressful for me trying to source the relevant funding as we need something consistent, but we would greatly appreciate donations from any businesses that wants to support us in the future and help keep us going.
“Wiltshire Council also wants us to take on board all age groups as well as taking in those with learning difficulties, or medical issues. While we would love to do this, none of us here are qualified and we cannot afford the training that is required.”
Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council says that funding is available if groups take in people with eligible social care needs.
He said, “We want to ensure people have the right support so they can live well and be a part of their community. Daytime and evening services are important opportunities to help promote this independence and community engagement. We have been in contact with organisations since the change was agreed last year, to provide more personalised options that benefit those who most need our support and ensure opportunities are equitable across the county.
“Last year, we advertised a new tender to provide daytime and evening opportunities called the Living my Life framework. Lunch and Friendships clubs can apply to join this framework at any time to support people with eligible social care needs. We’d be happy to have a chat with the centre to discuss this and other options available to them. They can also apply to area boards through the Health and Wellbeing funding for one-off support and I would urge them to consider that.”
Wiltshire Council’s Westbury Area Board is the body responsible to hand out grants to local groups, but Sue Ezra says that this money is to be used for specific projects or improvements.
She added that it is not a consistent fund that they can rely on to support the day-to-day running of the day centre.
Sue said, “We are very positive here, regardless of the financial situation. The members are always telling us how much they enjoy coming, and I think all the volunteers here love it just as much as I do. I am determined to find a way forward, but in the meantime, we can relax slightly knowing that funding for the immediate future is secured. Hopefully we will find funding elsewhere for the future.
“On a more positive note, the membership is creeping back up! It’s great to see that so many people come to us on a Thursday and that we are a key part of people’s social lives. We haven’t put any of the costs onto our members, we will just try and find a way forward ourselves.”
Could you volunteer? The White Horse Day Centre is on the look-out for someone who could take the group through some gentle exercises; they are asking for someone to spare 15 minutes each Thursday, to get some of the members moving.
If you would like to donate to the White Horse Day Centre, or volunteer, contact Sue on 07816 991 960.
The White Horse Day Centre can be found at Grassacres Hall, Eden Vale Road, Westbury BA13 3NZ.
