The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A South Holland charity which has helped people for six decades is ready to return to the town.
The Spalding branch of Mencap was badly hit when volunteer numbers for club sessions fell to just three.
Wendy and David Houghton were two of them, and they have both been involved for half a century.
The Gateway Club met every Friday for people with learning difficulties. It was forced to close at the beginning of the pandemic.
At the time there was a team of eight volunteers running sessions catering for around 30 people.
Wendy and David were down to one additional volunteer after the pandemic, not enough to meet requirements for the charity.
They issued a plea through the Voice and the call for help was heard loud and clear in July with enough responses to re-start the popular sessions.
Now there are plans to re-open the club before Christmas after an AGM on Monday, November 28 at Broad Street Methodist Church Hall, Spalding, at 6pm.
“We were delighted to have a number of people come forward to support the society and who are willing to volunteer in group sessions,” said Wendy.
More than ten people came forward to help the charity and the weekly sessions are back on the cards.
It means that those with learning disabilities, their families, dependants and carers, can once again meet for leisure and recreation.
“Since the pandemic started in 2020, members of the group may have missed out on socialising and leisure activities”, said Wendy.
She added that people had been asking when the group was going to re-open, but without extra volunteers they could not have done it.
“A range of updated policies and procedures are being drawn-up in order to ensure the safety of everyone taking part, including volunteers and carers,” she said.
There are now enough people to form a committee and act as trustees to get the ball rolling once again.
More volunteers are always welcome and for further information, contact Wendy on 01775 640296.
The AGM is open to anyone and there is no obligation to join.
