Centre event to help fund community services

Staff at Crich Glebe Field Centre are hosting a fundraiser in a bid to replace a shortfall after budget cuts.

The centre is the home of Daycare – a service for the elderly and socially isolated – but funding was slashed at the end of last year.

Staff have held a string of events since then which has raised more than £11,000, but does not cover the £32,000 in lost funding.

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The centre, which has been running for almost 20 years, provides its clients with companionship, a hot meal and access to other vital services.

Around 29 people currently use Daycare, attending between one and four sessions a week.

David Lane, a spokesman for the Crich Glebe Field Centre management committee, said: “Despite the government’s repeated claim to want social care to be available in local communities, it seems there is very little money to support this, so it’s up to us to do what we can.

“The committee has been working to overturn the CCG’s decision to withdraw funding, but members were baffled to learn that social care was no longer in their budget – I don’t know where that leaves us.”

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A spokesman for NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group said the centre’s bid was independently evaluated but ‘found to contain insufficient information’.

The spokesman said: “In 2014, as a result of the changing financial landscape and new approaches to health and social care delivery, Derbyshire CCGs and local authorities recognised the need to review all funding to the voluntary sector. Derbyshire County Council stated its intention to withdraw all discretionary funding so we planned to ensure that health needs of the population could be met within the funding that was available.

“It was not possible for us to fully replace funding that was withdrawn, so we notified all organisations that the old funding arrangements would cease, and that a funding review would take place.

“Organisations were invited to get involved in the review, and staff visited Glebe Field Centre to explain the process of reapplying for funding. The centre’s application was independently evaluated but found to contain insufficient information, including detail about health benefits for local people.

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“Unfortunately this meant their bid was unsuccessful, as other bids had clearly outlined how their work supported the health of their local communities.

“We provided detailed feedback on the bidding process and have notified them of further opportunities available where they could bid for available funding.”

The fundraiser on Saturday April 11 will see Lesley Smith perform as Katherine Swynford. From 7.30pm at the centre, she will take the audience back in time to 1399 – and talk through Katherine’s life, donning period costume.

Email [email protected] or visit crichglebefieldcentre.org for more information.