Proposal to close Age UK day clubs in Newhaven and Peacehaven

The charity says it is due to attendance figures for members at both clubs declining over recent times and East Sussex County Council’s day care club member attendance declining.

At present, the day clubs in West Quay, Newhaven and Kempton House, in Cavell Avenue, Peacehaven, are open one day a week.

Ruairi McCourt, services director, said the charity has supported the day clubs for several years, but a challenging economic climate and rising costs and declining attendances meant it was no longer in a position to do this.

He said: “It’s regrettable that we have to consider the future of the day clubs – however, attendances have been dwindling for some time and if the decision is to close, we will be working with all members and carers, adult social care and other community groups to see if the current small number of members can access alternatives.

“Age UK East Sussex also has a range of other services that are increasingly popular – such as our Healthy Living Clubs – where we supported 134 clients in our nine clubs to enjoy 9,282 episodes of care and our Home Support Service which has supported 75 clients to access 2,258 support sessions, in the last year.

“A key focus of these services is befriending – overcoming social isolation – and we will be looking at how we increase our support activities to older people in the Havens in the future.”

The proposal is that both day clubs will close on Friday, January 31, 2020. No final decision will be made until after January 3, the charity confirmed. It is currently in consultation with staff around the proposal.

Sue Taylor, trustee of Kempton House Day Centre – a registered charity – said that the centre itself would not close as it is independent of Age UK, and that Kempton House would take over the day club if it was shut down by Age UK.