Heartbreak and devastation as Throckley care centre to close on Friday

Families have spoken of their heartbreak and devastation as an "amazing" Throckley care facility is set to close on Friday after funding from Newcastle City Council was been cut.

The Grange Day Centre, in Throckley, Newcastle, is set to shut its doors for the last time after bosses failed to reach an agreement over a new contract with Newcastle City Council over the future of its funding.

Following news of the centre's closure, families have spoken of their heartache and devastation over the decision.

Linda Cameron, who only found out the centre was closing through Facebook, said: "I'm devastated. My mum has had surgery and she has been in a really bad way. She's been going for a few months and they've been absolutely amazing. She loves all the other people, it builds her confidence.

"If it closes, there's absolutely nothing for the elderly in this area. It's so important for these people who have had strokes, or people that have a family member that needs a little bit of respite. They get so much pleasure and exercise."

Angela Woodhall's mum Cynthia Lawton, 89, goes to The Grange twice a week. Angela and Cynthia both live in Gosforth, but Cynthia is originally from Benwell.

Angela said: "I saw [the Facebook post] and I said to my daughter, 'hang on, that's one week's time'. We don't have a week to find placements for my mam, let alone the other people."

A spokesperson for The Grange told ChronicleLive: "To run a safe service we need a certain number of staff to look after the people. The contract was only allowing us to employ one person for every ten people that attend, and we work two people to every ten. So for the last three years we've had to subsidise the contract because it is six years old now. I think the biggest issue within that contract is the whole concept of day service has changed since we came out of Covid."

They added: "The contract never changed and after several requests for it to be reviewed, it still hasn't."

The spokesperson for The Grange claimed contract discussions have been ongoing with Newcastle City Council for the past three years, but that in the meantime the care centre has had to subsidise staff wages from cash reserves to be able to run a safe service.

"We've run out of reserves so we can't subsidise contracts anymore, which is why we haven’t accepted it or signed it," the spokesman said.

"There's a range of people that use the centre. There's the people who have complex care needs, who are sent by Newcastle City Council and by our private clients.

"So people who have really advanced dementia, their carers send them to us to look after them whilst they have a break for the day.

"The second group of people that use our services are our Meals on Wheels customers, most of these are people who are housebound who can't or won't leave the house for certain reasons. We deliver a hot meal and pudding to them Monday - Friday.

"The third group is called an outreach service. If you don't want to come into the centre to receive support, we go out to their homes to support them.

"The fourth are the community who don't have care needs, but we subsidise a hot meal and pudding, whatever they desire. We also make them a sandwich to take home if they can't make a sandwich for themselves. They come in with their support workers or by themselves, but they haven't got complex care needs.

"The whole community, the families and the carers are going to be affected by us closing."

Angela added: "It's a day out for my mum and she loves it. For some people it's the only thing they have to look forward to."

Linda plays the ukulele and her and her group go round to homes and centres to play music for the residents. She said they were due to go to The Grange at the end of the month to play Christmas music.

She said: "I just don't know where these people are going to go. My mam will really, really miss it. She only goes once a week, but we've been trying to get her to go more often. She's really upset about it."

Newcastle City Council was approached for comment on the imminent closure of The Grange.

Coun Adam Walker, cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Prevention at Newcastle City Council, said: "We are very sad to hear that The Grange has decided to close on November 8, 2024 and understand the concern this will cause local people.

"The Grange is an independent charity and any decision on the future of the Charity must be taken by the Board of Trustees. Although The Grange does deliver some work on behalf of the Council, it also delivers a range of services for local people which are arranged and funded by people themselves. Since 2019, the Council has been in contract with The Grange for day services and we are saddened that this arrangement is coming to an end.

"The Council would like to reassure residents that there are other day services available in the city and we will be supporting people with care and support needs to access alternative supports."

He added: "For those who accessed The Grange without arranging this through the Council, we are providing signposting support to help find alternative arrangements."

More information can be found at https://www.informationnow.org.uk/; by contacting Adult Social Care Point via email on ASCP@newcastle.gov.uk or calling 0191 278 8377.

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