Don’t Cut Us Out responds to new community clubs

The council said one of the day clubs will be located in Pulborough or Chanctonbury and one will be in Shoreham or Lancing.

Funding of £30,000 per year is available for the Pulborough/Chanctonbury scheme and £40,000 is available for Shoreham/Lancing.

Now, Barry Pickthall from The Don’t Cut Us Out campaign has responded to the news.

“The Don’t Cut Us Out campaign welcomes the new initiatives which follows months of campaigning on behalf of the elderly and infirm across West Sussex,” he said.

“But, there are questions whether these relatively small amounts go anywhere close to filling huge gaps in care support lost by the closures of day centres in Midhurst, Pulborough and Horsham.”

Margaret Guest, a senior care manager and campaigner, said: “The £40,000 a year earmarked for Shoreham goes nowhere near the cost of providing five days a week professional day centre support and there’s nothing for the people living in Midhurst which is losing the largest day centre provision when The Grange facility closes in September.

“This currently provides a lunch club, day centre and transport for 35 people each week.

“These elderly people are currently being reassessed and likely to lose all care support in the coming months.

“We will continue to monitor developments and campaign against these uncivilised cuts.”

Anyone who would like more information can contact Seth Gottesman on 07921 291091, Anna Williamson on 01232 777020 or e-mail [email protected]