CROSSROADS DAY SERVICES CENTRE GIVEN NEW LEASE OF LIFE WITH MANX LOTTERY TRUST SUPPORT

Crossroads’ Day Services Centre, Masham Court, has been fully-refurbished with support from Manx Lottery Trust.

The programme of works, which included upgrading the bathroom facilities to be better suited to people with disabilities and age-related needs, in addition to a new storage / staff room, was completed in December at a cost of more than £32,000.

Through its Small Grants Programme Manx Lottery Trust provided funding of £2,500. The project has been a real community effort, with the remaining balance provided by the Boshier-Hinton Foundation, the Lockington Marshall Fund, The Screwfix Foundation, Tesco Bags of Help and the Elizabeth Clucas Charitable Trust, as well as discounted fixtures from Cu-Plas Callow.

Crossroads provides support to carers and people with care needs, offering respite to give them time away from their caring role to just be themselves. In addition, Masham Court hosts a Social Club, ‘Building Bridges’ group and Crossroads Young Carers. Other groups, such as Girl Guides, also have use of the facilities.

According to the charity, every one of us has a three in five chance of becoming a carer during our lifetime, and there are more than 1,000 young carers in the Island.

Crossroads CEO, Jackie Betteridge, said: ‘The services we offer at Masham Court are a lifeline for the many people we support, so ensuring the facilities are fit-for-purpose is so important.

‘It often shocks people when they hear how many people within our community are carers for family members and loved ones and being depended on like this can be a real challenge, with carers often getting no, or very little time for themselves. Having a support network which provides people to talk to, respite care and friends who are experiencing the same challenges is key.

‘We’re extremely grateful to Manx Lottery Trust for supporting our charity, as well as to the other people and organisations who have helped with this project. Only through generous support like this are we able to run these services.

Manx Lottery Trust Chairman Sarah Kelly added: ‘We’re pleased to have supported Crossroads with the refurbishment of their service centre in Douglas. The work they do is so important and touches the lives of so many in our community. Any one of us can become a carer, so knowing that help is at hand is fantastic.’

Manx Lottery Trust’s Smaller Grant Programme provides community funding between £300 and £2,500. Information and application forms can be found at www.mlt.org.im/grant-programmes.

For more information about the services offered by Crossroads visit www.crossroadsiom.org.