20/12/11….Thame Day Centre ‘optimistic’ about its future

THE Day Centre in Thame which has been facing an uncertain future for the past few months, celebrated Christmas in style today, with special guest, the Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton and his wife Margaret.

Friends, supporters, centre staff and volunteers put their worries behind them today when they celebrated Christmas together at The Oxfordshire, near Thame.

Due mainly to the hard work of the Centre’s manager, Gillian Coleman, who has lead fund-raising throughout the year organising quizzes, cake sales and the like, the 80+ guests were able to enjoy a top class, three-course Christmas dinner and entertainment provided by the Banjovi Revival Band.

Brenda Prosser, Chair of the Thame and District Day Centre Trustees, Welcomed the Mayor and his Mayoress before thanking Gill Coleman, the volunteers and drivers who transport members from outlying villages and the town, for offering their time.

“Thame is a caring town,” she said, “and more and more we have come to rely on it for supporting us. The ‘Friends’ of the day centre now find ourselves in between two bureaucratic organisations, the Bucks Hospital Trust PCT and Oxfordshire County Council. For the past 25 years, we have relied on grants for our survival but these days we have to work in a different way, seeking out funding and negotiating for it.

“At the moment, we are anxiously waiting to hear what we will be getting next year in the way of funds but I am optimistic. We are all in this together and I remain hopeful that one way or another the Thame & District Day Centre will continue to flourish.”

NB to read about the history of the Day Centre’s fight for survival over the last two or three years, click here: https://www.thame.net/results.asp?search=Day+Centre&goButton=go