Care home uncertainty sparks fears for long-serving Leeds mobility charity
For Disability Mobility (FDM) offers a subsidised door-to-door minibus service to 64 groups of people from sheltered housing, residential homes and communities across south Leeds as well as a social club to 400 members.
But its office and garage on council-owned land next to the closure-threatened Dolphin Manor care home, in Rothwell, face an uncertain future after plans for a community takeover of the home fell through in February.
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Hide AdFDM founder Ron Frost claims the charity is still no closer to learning what the future holds – making it harder to secure grants and support.
“We need a decision and a deadline. We apply for funding and how can we turn around and say, ‘yes we have definitely got a future?’,” he said.
“If no decision has been taken on Dolphin Manor, why are the residents moving out?
He added: “This has been going on for years – a lot of toing and froing from the council.
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Hide Ad“They said they value the service we give the community and we will be relocated but we are still in limbo.”
He said the charity, which recently acquired a second minibus through a Government grant, is key to meeting goals around reducing isolation in south Leeds.
But fears over whether it will be helped to find a new home if Dolphin Manor closes loom over a charity which has been running for 19 years.
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said that it is “actively looking for a suitable site for the charity to re-establish a base, if this is required”.
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Hide AdStating that FDM will be part of future discussions, she added: “No decision has been made as to the future proposed plans for care provision in Rothwell, including the future of Dolphin Manor.”
For further information visit fdmbus.org.uk.