Leo Group provides vital funds for Queensbury Support Centre

The firm, based in Halifax, stepped in and donated £6,000 after the centre’s funding was cut by two thirds leaving them without the money they required to stay open.

For 24 years Queensbury Support Centre has provided a day centre service, three days a week for elderly people; collecting them from their homes using their minibus and returning them home later that day.

Of the 30 regulars that attend the centre, which is held at the Baptist Church on Chapel Lane, most may not otherwise leave the house and live in isolation for the rest of the week.

Attendees have their lunch provided and get to enjoy the many activities on offer including day trips, exercises, raffles, bingo, skittles and sing-a-longs.

Cassie Irving, Leo Group’s PR Manager said: “When we heard about Queensbury Support Centre’s plight, we knew we had to help. The service is vital to the community; I have heard first-hand from those that attend what a difference it makes to their lives and how much it means to them, you can’t put a price on that.

“Moving forward we will continue to support Queensbury Support Centre in whatever way we can to ensure it remains open for many more years to come.”

The centre is run by four staff and 20 volunteers and before the funding was cut the charged people £7.50 per day for the service, however they now charge £11.50 per day in an attempt to bridge the gap. The money provided by Leo Group will be used to bolster the centre’s reserves, ensure their ability to keep the service open and prevent the social isolation of many elderly people in the area.

Paul Barker, Queensbury Support Centre’s Manager, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Leo Group for providing us with a lifeline to keep the centre open.

“Following the devastating decision to cut our funding, if it wasn’t for the Leo Group then many elderly people in Queensbury would be subject to isolation, seeing nobody for days and even weeks on end.”