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Charity is appealing for funds to protect the home center

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Charity is appealing for funds to protect the home center

Chris Carrier and Jakes Guyton pose together in a cafe. Mr. Carrier has a beard and wears a floral top, while Ms. Guyton has long blonde hair and wears glasses. They are both wearing brightly printed clothes.

Chris Carrier and Jakes Guyton say the charity supports people with learning disabilities (GUY CAMPBELL/BBC)

A charity supporting people with learning disabilities has appealed for help to raise more than £200,000 to secure the future use of its home site.

Lowestoft and the Borough of Mencap in Suffolk have launched a fundraising campaign to purchase two buildings which they already use for a variety of activities and support works.

The company also plans to buy a third building between the two current properties, which most recently housed a hair salon.

Site managers said the charity has until October 2025 to raise funds, after which all the buildings will be put on the open market.

Exterior of a one-story charity shop with clothes, dog baskets and colorful boxes of donated items Exterior of a one-story charity shop with clothes, dog baskets and colorful boxes of donated items

Lowestoft and District Mencap need to raise more than £200,000 to buy the sites (GUY CAMPBELL/BBC)

The charity currently runs two community spaces: the Unity Centre, which opened in 2011 as a charity shop and café and offers advice, friendship and support in the fight against hate crime, and the Fort, a play centre, social and creative space. opened in 2019.

Jack Guyton, chairman of Lowestoft and Borough of Mencap, said: “We have so many plans for the site but the first hurdle is raising the money needed to buy the premises.

“If we don’t buy it, or at least get it up and running by October next year, the whole site will be put up for sale and then most likely it will be demolished and converted into houses, and then we will lose our home.”

“We are incredibly lucky to have a wonderful landlord whose kindness and support have made a big difference in helping us get through the pandemic, lockdown and cost of living crisis.

“Unfortunately, he now needs to think about selling the property, but he has generously given us a year to raise the money.”

The charity needs to raise £200,000 to purchase the buildings and a further £20,000 to cover the administrative and legal costs of the purchase. So far more than £200 has been pledged through the fundraising website.

Ms Guyton added: “The Unity Center hosts a variety of social and musical events, which has led to us taking part in performances at the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall.

“Raising money to purchase the property will not only help us secure long-term security, but it will also give us unlimited potential for what we can do to continue to grow and provide more and better to the community.”

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