News
Anger at bid to close day centre
A CALL by KCC for the public’s view on its plan to close a care home in Maidstone has met awave of opposition. The closure of the Dorothy Lucy
Centre in Northumberland Road, Shepway has caused anger among those worried about losing a perma- nent home for the elderly and the dozens of families who use its respite services, aswell as thosewho visit its dementia day centres. The county council, which says
the centre is not fit for purpose, says it wants to use the money saved by closing it to improve care for service users in their own homes.However, a public meeting called by the Kent CountyAnti-Austerity Alliance at St Faith’s Church in Maidstone to save the 28-bed unit from closure at- tracted more than 50 supporters. Guest speakers Paul Hobday,
from the National Health Action party, and Unison’s Jacqui Berry claimed the closure of Maidstone’s dementia respite care centreswas an excuse for further privatisation. Sue Black, the daughter of a service user, also spoke about the lack of any real
alternative service provision. Those at the meeting supported the forma- tion of a committee to save the centre and marched to County Hall. Mrs Black, from Boughton Monchelsea, said: “The most impor- tant thing for our old people is that they have safe, secure care with ex- cellent staff, but of coursewe already have this in Dorothy Lucy. “My mother, who has dementia,
has shown improvement in her con- dition and communication. She also appears much happier since she has been attending there. “This consultation has the appear-
ance of choosing a vulnerable sec- tion of society who are unable to give their opinion. The timing, over Christmas, also suggests that it was hoped to keep opposition to a mini- mum.” A petition was handed to KCC’s
full council meeting by Cllr Brian Clark, who said: “As the petition is beyond the 2,500-threshold of names I expect to see it debated in January’s adult social care cabinet committee when the decision on closure will be made.”
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downsmail.co.uk Shelter opens to homeless
THE Maidstone churches winter shelter has once again opened its doors. For 12weeks the shelter offerswarm hospitality and safe beds at a differ-
ent church each night of theweek for up to 15 of the most vulnerable rough sleepers in the town. Just before cutting the ribbon to open the shelter, the chairman of the charity’s trustees, Rev Bill Miller thanked all the volunteers who ensure the guests feel safe and comfortable. He said: “Volunteers
get involved in so many different ways, some preparing the meal, oth- ers acting as hosts, oth- ers baking or laundering sleeping bags. Every con- tribution makes a differ- ence to the experience of the guests and we are grateful to each one.” Some volunteers also
give up their own sleep to care for the guests overnight, and on open- ing night one of these was the Archdeacon of Maidstone, the Venerable Stephen Taylor: Hesaid: “Homelessness is verymuchpart of the Christmas story. Iwas keen
to givemy one night’s sleep, knowing that it willmakeadifference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.” The shelter’s operations manager, Jayne Hendy, has been involved in the
project since its pilot in 2013-14, and is determined to help guests find long- term solutions. She hopes that this year at least 30 guests will be housed by the end of the project. If youwould like to get involved with the Maidstone Churches Winter Shel-
ter, call 07713 706665 or 01622 961616, email
mcwsoffice@gmail.com or go to the website,
maidstoneshelter.org.uk. Donations can be made at vir-
ginmoneygiving.com ormydonate.bt.com.
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