Appeal For Cash As Devon Residential Home Faces Closure

A RESIDENTIAL home has sent out a ‘desperate’ plea for more than £50,000 of funding to save it from closure. Meadowside Residential Home in Newton Abbot is ‘financially struggling’ to keep 10 residents with varying degrees of learning and physical difficulties in what has been their home for up to 20 years.

Those who help run the home say they are considering closure as a ‘last resort’ but are desperate for a ‘lifeline’ to save the service.

The home, which is a registered charity affiliated to MENCAP, has so far relied on funding from social services and on the proceeds from the sale of a bungalow in the grounds.

But volunteers say this is not enough and the funds have run out leaving the future of the home in jeopardy.

Richard Holland, volunteer and chiropodist at the home, said: “We are trying to raise money for a project to help give it a lifeline. There is a detached building within the grounds which could be converted into a two-bedroom bungalow and used for supported living accommodation. This would bring in a weekly income which would mount up and keep the home going.”

About five years ago the home raised £110,000 from the sale of another bungalow on the site but the money has ‘completely gone’ leaving the home unable to carry out maintenance works.

Work on the kitchen had to be halted and the exterior of the home is badly in need of maintenance work.

Mr Holland said: “The problem is we have no funds to do the conversion. We are asking every organisation we can think of for any help to secure the long-term future of the home. We have secured some help from Teignbridge Council but we desperately need more help.”

The council is already providing some materials and manpower to tidy the grounds and to do some interior decorating.

But Mr Holland says without ‘hard cash’ the charity will be faced with closure.