Twechar day care centre saved from the axe

WELCOME funding has saved a struggling day care centre from going under. Four staff at Twechar Day Care Centre were left facing redundancy when it was recently revealed that financial difficulties could force the service to close.

But it has recently been announced that East Dunbartonshire Council will provide extra funding over the next six months to safeguard the centre’s short-term future.

Councillor Michael O’Donnell, convener of the council’s social work committee, said: “This additional money was allocated after we were contacted by the Twechar Day Care manager to notify us that their day care service was no longer sustainable and we met management to discuss their financial problems.

“As well as providing funding we will support the board to help them look at accounting practices, business planning and their cashflow situation.”

He added: “This is a very good service which is highly rated by the Care Inspectorate and highly valued by its users and the council.

“We want to work in partnership with the service to do all we can to secure its future.”

Kirkintilloch East and Twechar councillor John Jamieson said: “I welcome this prompt response.

“East Dunbartonshire has probably the largest proportion of elderly people in Scotland – and this is set to rise.

“This relatively inexpensive service should be maintained. I am sure that the committee is pulling out all of the stops to ensure that it does.”