PEOPLE power has ensured Haslemere and surrounding areas are not deprived of a ‘lifeline’ support service for those suffering with dementia.

There was an outcry in January, when Alzheimer’s Society announced that the five-day service it has operated at Marjorie Gray Hall in Grayswood Road since 1994, would close on March 31.

The launch of a hard-hitting town protest campaign won a three-month stay of execution in March.

But the future of the service remained in doubt until last Thursday’s town council meeting, when newly-elected mayor Malcolm Carter announced the formation of a new charity to continue the lifeline service at the hall from July.

Initially, the day centre offering with dementia-trained staff supported by volunteers will run for three days a week, subject to the necessary regulations being in place.

The new operations director will be Elaine Clement, who is the existing support manager at the society’s Haslemere branch.

Welcoming the successful outcome of months of hard work, Mr Carter said: “This is a fantastic effort that brought the whole community together to save such an important facility for the residents of Haslemere and a wide surrounding area, extending to Liphook and Farnham.”

The town council will be the guarantor of the lease with NHS Property Services for the first 10 years, and it has been granted as a rolling two years agreement.

An anonymous Haslemere donor has already funded the first year’s lease.

More than 40 carers, current clients, potential volunteers, councillors and representatives from other local charities attended a public meeting night, at the Marjorie Gray Hall, on Tuesday, to celebrate the major progress made – and to hear about the plans ahead.

Delighted by the news, local carer Graham Ash, whose mother is a client, said: “This wonderful day care facility with bags of positive energy, is the most splendid place for my mother to spend her days.”

The meeting was informed the new service would offer day-care facilities for those living with dementia, as well as respite and support for their carers. Better yet, the future plan is not only to cover Haslemere and the surrounding areas but also South West Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.

Carer representative Margaret Barlow, whose husband suffers from dementia, gave a talk and an update, explaining the significance of the name of the new charity and plans for its new logo.

Mr Carter explained the structure of the new charity and Anne Downing, chairman of the new board of trustees, outlined how the centre would be funded through client payments and fundraising.

The meeting also welcomed Haslemere Hog ‘Pen Pig,’ which will be at the Grand Auction of Hogs, at Undershaw, on July 4 – hopefully raising a hefty sum for The Hunter Centre.

The aim of the centre’s working group is to raise £50,000 to help establish the charity. Donations have already been received through The Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust, which is holding the money received until The Hunter Centre receives its charity registration.

Elaine Clement explained the day centre would run in association with other local charities, and an appeal was made for more donations to secure its future and also for more volunteers to provide general companionship for clients and assist trained staff with their activities.

• Donations are welcomed with cheques made out to The Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust and the envelope marked The Hunter Centre. They can be sent or dropped in c/o Town Hall, High Street, Haslemere GU27 2HG, marked ‘The Hunter Centre’ and gift aid forms will be provided to the address of the donor. More trustees are also welcomed To find out more call Anne Downing on 0778 616 3738 or email [email protected]