Cash-strapped Day Centre joins the South Oxon Lottery

THE uncertainty of longer term funding for the Thame and District Day Centre means that it is going to have to rely on fundraising and donations, and now, this much valued Thame facility has joined the South Oxfordshire Lottery.

Alison Champken Woods, Chair of the Trustees, explained: “The Thame & District Day Centre is now in its 32nd year thanks to the commitment of staff, volunteers and drivers as without them the service could not continue. We do get some funding from the County Council and the Town Council and we have recently increased the cost for members to £12.50 per day in order to cover our rent.

“Anyone who would like to support the Day Centre can purchase a Lottery ticket for a £1 and will be asked to nominate a charity. Then, the day centre and the ticket holder will be entered into a draw with the opportunity to win £25,000. LINK HERE for details

Who attends the day centre?

Members come from a variety of backgrounds and are of varying ages and the day centre offers the opportunity to socialise, make new friends and renew old friendships. It is based on the Community Hub site at the cottage hospital in East Street, and is open three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.

“We provide a caring and sociable environment which helps to support and provide independence for the elderly of Thame and the surrounding area.” continued Alison. We provide tea/coffee, accompanied by a variety of puzzles – the men like to play dominoes! We offer a two-course hot lunch and entertainment in the afternoons. Throughout the year there a number of outings and we now have ‘Creation Station’ visiting us once a month where the older generation can interact with pre-school aged children and their parents. This allows the children and the members to be creative with paints, glue, feathers etc. and become terribly messy, but it’s great fun for all.”

If you know someone who would benefit from the service the Thame and District Day Centre offers, contact: Gill Coleman on 01844 212080 or email: info@thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk or download an application form the ‘Joining Us’ page on the TDDC website: www.thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk