Staff at Wolverhampton day centre in plea for members' return
Staff at a Wolverhampton day centre, closed for a year because of the pandemic, have appealed for members to return and for donations to help it survive.
St Columba's Day Centre, in Castlecroft Road, has been in operation as a non-profit-making charity for the past 38 years.
Members are aged from 55 to 100-years-old and the centre offers activities, tuck-shop trolleys, two-course lunches and tea and biscuits as well as transport for people living in the South West of the city.
Individual members pay £34-a-day but those referred by their local authority get subsidised entry.
The centre has always proved popular but was forced to close for a year because of the pandemic.
Now it has reopened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but only about nine people have been walking through the doors.
Jeanette Hall, the day centre manager, said: "We are appealing for our members to return and for people and local businesses to help support the centre.
"We have been hit hard by the pandemic but are now open three days each week.
"However, since reopening three weeks ago we have only had about nine members through the doors each day when we used to get 16 people, five days each week.
"Our numbers have halved and this means we do not have the income coming in and we are not certain how we will continue and have until September to find the finance we need.
"We need help to see us through this difficult period caused by the pandemic and hope to get donations through a JustGiving page.
"Unfortunately, we have lost some members through old age and it seems that people who have been isolating might be concerned about returning.
"We hope they will return as all the staff have had their vaccinations and we insist on social distancing and other pandemic practices."
