I wish to correct a statement attributed to me in your article on December 6, regarding funding for local charities.
The Brighton Area Branch of the Alzheimer's Society researched the needs of younger people affected by dementia and then obtained funding to open the Towner Club, the only specialist centre in Sussex for younger people with dementia.
The initial project has been funded from our own reserves, ARDIS, and the National Alzheimer's Society, plus a contribution towards the premises costs from Social Services.
South Downs Health NHS Trust has provided clinical support to specialist workers employed by the branch and we are currently in talks with the trust regarding funding for these posts after the end of the project period. We already have an agreement from ARDIS regarding their continued financial support.
I did not say that "social services and the Health Authority would be in desperate straits because we ran a day centre".
It would be correct to say that if it had not been for the imagination and persistence of our branch, the day centre might never have been started and that the majority of the funding had to be sought from non-statutory agencies.
We very much value our relationships with the local statutory agencies and do not want these relationships to be jeopardised in any way.
We would, however, welcome more realistic financial support for unique services that we currently operate, as we are having to use reserves to supplement the grants that we receive.
-N McArthur, Branch and Development Manager, Alzheimer's Society Brighton Area Branch
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