The manager of a day care centre in Princes Risborough has thanked the community for their help in saving the centre from closure.

The Princes Centre, in Clifford Road, provides day care services for people with mental health problems, physical and learning difficulties, as well as elderly people who come to the centre to socialise.

The centre has a bright future, but it was not always looking so positive.

The centre faced closure in 2012 after Bucks County Council proposed to withdraw funding, meaning visitors to the centre would have to travel to new, bigger community ‘hubs’ in High Wycombe or Aylesbury.

It was due to shut in June 2012, but Risborough Cares, a charity set up to fight a previous attempt at closure, launched a campaign to save the centre, with the aim of raising £200,000 to buy the building outright.

After years of fundraising from the community, the total needed to buy the building was finally raised towards the end of last year and day centre manager, Kim Challinor and the team of volunteers and trustees, have worked tirelessly to make sure the centre stays open.

Kim said: “When we started the process of trying to buy the building, we had one penny in the bank. Two years later, we have managed to raise an amazing amount of money to make sure the centre can stay open.

“Now we’re concentrating on raising money to pay for routine maintenance on the building to keep it in good condition.

“It’s time to say thank you to the community for their help, because we started out with nothing. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the Risborough community.  

“We have struggled to raise the money over the years, but now is the time to tell people about what we have done.

“We couldn’t have done it without the people of Risborough, they have been amazing. The support from the town council, Kop Hill Climb, Heart of Bucks, Risborough Cares and Churches Together has been incredible.” 

Kim said they never turn away a client unless they cannot meet their needs fully. 

She said: “We've only ever turned away one person and that was because they had severe difficulities that we couldn't provide for fully. We always want the best for our clients and we care about them. We're like a family here.” 

The centre provides social activities for their clients, ranging from pampering sessions and card games, to trips into London and gardening groups.

Kim said: “We’ve gone from 53 clients when we opened, to 90. We have clients who say, we wish we came here years ago, it’s really fantastic to hear.

“When you see people enjoying the events we put on, or even just the little things like having their nails painted or playing scrabble, that’s what makes it worth the struggle. We do an exercise class and I have never heard laughter like it, it was amazing.

“We have a gardening group, a pottery group, the clients have done horse riding, bowling, cooking sessions. We ask them what they want to do and we try our best to provide it for them. It can be difficult, it can be expensive, but we put our clients’ needs first.”

Town councillor Matt Walsh, who sits on the board of trustees for the centre, said: “Since Kim became manager, the level of social events has increased dramatically. Kim and the team work tirelessly here, the care they provide is absolutely excellent.

“The big community hubs that Bucks County Council are replacing day care centres with are great, but they deal with people who have complex needs. Where would the people who come here for the social aspect go? They would probably stay at home, isolated.

“I can’t think of one person who hasn’t wanted to help this place when they see what the team does here. It’s an amazing place and now we can look forward to the next two years.”

The Princes Centre is always happy to take on new visitors. Call 01844 345105 for more information.