Party held to celebrate one year anniversary of Assynt Centre takeover
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A party was held on Saturday evening at the Assynt Centre, Lochinver, to celebrate the first anniversary of its takeover by community group, Community Care Assynt.
The community interest company (cic) took over the running of the unit, which provides care for the elderly,from the Highland Council in autumn last year.
The cash strapped authority had earmarked the centre for closure because its £250,000 annual operating costs were deemed too high.
Over a period of years, social work managers cut back the services provided by the unit which included residential care, respite care and day care.
First, its two residential beds were axed and then opening hours were restricted to weekdays rather than 24/7.
A dedicated action group was set up in 2007, chaired by Lairg GP Dr David Slator, to reinstate the services. That action group eventually morphed into Community Care Assynt.
Dr Slator said: "From the moment the Assynt Centre came under threat of closure, the community rallied behind our group and supported us to set up Community care Assynt."
The new community group received support from O40 (Older People for Older People), a EU Northern Periphery Programme funded project which aims to help older people held themselves in remote and rural communities.
Community Care Assynt negotiated with Trust Housing, which owns the centre building, to take it over.
They also reached a deal with the local authority whereby under a three-year Service Level Agreement, they would receive £85,000 a year to run the centre.
Initially the new company anticipated running the unit as a drop-in centre, providing lunch and other activities. Plans for the future included taking over the running of the home care service in the area and possibly providing residential care beds again.
* To find out more about last Saturday’s celebration and how Community Care Assynt have got on during their first year running the centre, read this Friday’s Northern Times.
