The Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry has axed the community fund citing mismanagement of the previous administration. The community fund provided much needed financial support to organisations supplying essential preventative services for the elderly and vulnerable in Croydon, These services are an integral part of keeping people out of hospitals and the care system.
The funding cut has already caused many organisations to close or vastly reduce their hours, resulting in a worse outlook for older and vulnerable people in Croydon.
One organisation, Upper Norwood Association for Community care (UNACC) is fighting closure. They demand the Mayor reconsiders and agrees to reinstate their funding which is a very small amount of the council’s yearly budget. UNACC offers older people a safe, friendly place to be four times a week, members enjoy a wide range of activities from seated yoga, Zumba gold, Nordic walking and art classes. UNACC argues its preventative work saves the council hundreds of thousands a year, manager Natalie Fernandez says “It is absolutely vital Croydon council continues to support preventative services for older people, leaving them vulnerable and alone at home will cost the council and its residents more in the long run. It will be the tax payer the council look to when picking up the bill.” Croydon residents seem to be in agreement as an online petition calling on the Mayor to rethink has already reached over 500 signatures.
Jean, 93 says “It’s my lifeline, I have been here ten years now. I don’t know what I would do without the company, the exercises. We thoroughly enjoy ourselves, it would be disastrous if we had to close.”
Long term member June, 91 says “After twenty five years of being a member, I’m really very, very sad about the whole thing. Just hoping there is going to be a miracle, somebody is going to sponsor us or something like that, keep us going that little bit longer.”
Alan, 67 says “I’ve been coming here for over ten years, since I retired. When you’re on your own in the house, you build up anxiety and stress, so to come to a place like this is very beneficial for me.”
Volunteer Anne says “I started volunteering at UNACC ten years ago. I was completely lost, had just been through a divorce, forced to sell my home and lost my younger brother all in one year. I had to start again away from my support group, I was on my own with my severely disabled daughter. Volunteering at UNACC was like being with family and saved my sanity, I don’t know what I would do without it.”
