Formal Notice of Closure of Terry’s Place Charity
(Registered Address: Ground Floor, Madgwick Lane, Westhampnett, Chichester PO18 0FB Registered Charity Number 1199604)
Following a special meeting of the board of Trustees held on Wednesday 17 July 2024 the extremely difficult decision was made to formally close the charity. That decision was purely financial. Despite valiant efforts of our team to secure sustainable funding and navigate the complexities of the current economic climate the reality is we simply cannot sustain the running costs of Terry’s Place.
We will sadly close the doors to the respite day care centre on Friday 2 August 2024.
However, we must acknowledge that for the last two years of its inception Terry’s Place has been a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for older, vulnerable, adults and their carers to feel part of something wonderful. It has simply been a life saver for so many.
We must also acknowledge the first-rate staff we have employed and the volunteers that have given us their time and experience.
We know we are not the first, nor likely to be the last, purposeful organisation that has had to grasp the necessity of closing this year, despite still believing passionately in the value and importance of what we do. Older people are a high risk for social isolation and loneliness due to changes in health and social connections that can come with growing older, hearing, vision, and memory loss, disability, trouble getting around, and/or the loss of family and friends. As a generation that are living longer the need for respite care will continue to grow.
We are in consultation with fellow charities/partners to provide alternative services for our current visitors who will remain in desperate need for respite care. We have received positive feedback and support from them. Together with these charities we are creating a signpost document with full support details which will be distributed this week.
We will remain in contact with our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, visitors and their families to support and advise them to the best of our ability in this sad but ultimately, necessary, decision.
The Board of Trustees
