I thought you might like a long awaited update regarding our progress to acquire permanent accommodation. Please forgive the delay but our new circumstances have been hectic and there are many possibilities that are continuing to be analysed.
In December we started to move to six separate sites. The Office Bureau and Administration Department are located at the offices of the Sevenoaks Branch of Mind, Transport and Appeals are at offices and parking in Brenchley, the Activities Centre at the Tunbridge Wells Football Club and three of us are using our homes as a base, they are the Assessment and Development Manager, the Fundraising Co-ordinator and myself.
We are, at present, negotiating with a local company that may be able to accommodate the whole project for up to two years, but unfortunately final decisions are taking time.
We have also been gifted a piece of land in Pembury on which we will be able to build, subject to planning permission, a permanent home so that we do not find ourselves in this situation again. We are also highly fortunate to have an extremely good start to our building fund, an exceedingly generous anonymous donation of £150,000 ring fenced specifically for our long term future. I will inform you all of our plans when they are further forward.
We anticipate that with the continuing help from organizations, and individuals we should be able to settle into a new home during 2009-2010. The SOS appeal response certainly has been a success and is a tremendous asset during this interim period, thanks again to all of you for your contributions.
In the meantime the team are facing the challenge positively and making the best of the situation. To have the charity spread over numerous sites is a completely different way of operating but everyone is working well and clients across all departments are happy and satisfied and, above all, are still receiving a service.
Betty Howell
Chief Executive
July 2007