Therapy Centre In Fareham Could Close

24 March 2014, 06:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Fareham charity, The Rainbow Centre, which provides essential support to children with cerebral palsy and adults with severe neurological impairment, is making an urgent appeal for funds to stop it closing.

The service needs to raise £150,000 in the next 4-weeks to ensure that the charity continues its work, helping people right across the south coast. The nearest centre like it is in London and it is currently accessed by people from Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

Bosses at the Centre say the aftermath of the recession has proved too much, leaving it with no cash reserves and there is a serious risk of the services being no longer available to families.

Staff have been fundraising £47,500 each month to keep it operating, but without immediate financial support the Centre may not be able to continue with its’ services after the Easter break.

Although the Centre has developed new initiatives to increase income streams – time is needed for these initiatives to raise sufficient funds right now. There is a lot of positive news moving forward for the Centre, as long as it is able to secure essential funds now to ensure that it can continue to operate. 

The Rainbow Centre was set up in 1990 and originally began work with children with cerebral palsy and their families, teaching the life changing skills of Conductive Education developed at the Peto Institute in Hungary. 

This system of teaching helps develop new neural pathways to undamaged parts of the brain helping the individual to master control of their core muscles, limbs and movements increasing independence and freedom to achieve their full potential. 

In 2007 the service was extended to include adults, particularly those with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and individuals recovering from stroke and head injury and has gone on to achieve amazing results. 

For anyone wanting to help The Rainbow Centre with their urgent fundraising target of £150,000, you can text RBOW21 with the value of your donation to 70070. 

If any company is thinking of supporting a charity that helps a group of people – adults and children – with a wide range of disabilities, then The Rainbow Centre asks you to consider joining their 100 club regular giving scheme. 

This will provide a sustainable income stream and help to make a positive difference to our existing service users now and hundreds more in the years to come. 

Lara Bull, Centre Director, said

“The Board and I are absolutely confident that the strategy we have developed will ensure we should never find ourselves in this position again, we just need time.

“The power of the individual when multiplied is great and if the region we serve can come together to support us now, today, I strongly believe it could be the catalyst for the next phase in the Rainbow story. I urge everyone to be a part of that story.” 

To donate 

Call: 01329 289500 

Visit: www.rainbowcentre.org 

Text: RBOW21 and the donation amount to 70070 

Please follow us on facebook and twitter and help to spread the news of our appeal The Bradbury Building, Palmerston Drive, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 1BJ.

Charity No 1096603