Age UK in-person service to close in a few weeks
6 minutes ago
Cash Murphy
South East
A charity which provides dementia services in the East Grinstead area is due to close its in-person premises at the end of the month, it has been confirmed.
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove will no longer be based at the Glen Vue Centre, as Age UK says attendance is "low on some days" in a building that has "become increasingly expensive to run".
Among those affected is the family of Oliver Tully, whose 88-year-old father has been attending the dementia club three days a week.
He said: "Losing that provision, or seeing it substantially reduced, has enormous consequences. It affects not only Dad's wellbeing and quality of life but also our ability to provide the care he needs."
Tully says his father, a former RAF National Service veteran, has been "progressively deteriorating" but the club has been "absolutely invaluable to all of us".
He said: "My wife and I are his primary carers, but we both still have to work. I run my own business and my wife works full-time. We are far from the only family in this position."
News of the closure comes after Age UK East Grinstead and District merged with the Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove branch.
The spokesperson said a plan to close the centre was "already under review" prior to the merger, with trustees of the merged organisation since agreeing on this as a next step.
Age UK said those using the dementia service have been informed about the closure, adding that they will now "take a community approach".
Also needing to find new premises as a result of the closure is the Repair Café East Grinstead, a monthly clinic where people can bring anything that requires fixing.
Kathryn Hibberd-Little, Repair Café coordinator, says the prospect of moving is "daunting" but she now feels better because a new home is close to being confirmed.
She said: "We had a lot of venues reach out to us, which was lovely."
Since launching in November 2019 the Repair Café has been at the Glen Vue Centre, which according to Hibberd-Little is "such an important building in the community".
While sad it is closing, she has praised Age UK for how they have been treated over the years.
"We're really, really grateful to [Age UK]. They've let us use their venue without any charges," she said.
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