Clearer road ahead after Ford charity’s ‘horrific’ year

In the space of 12 months the organisation, which provides a vital transportation service for hundreds of elderly and disabled residents across the Arun district, veered from financial security to the precipice of closure.

It suffered the twin blow of losing £20,000 of funding, withdrawn by West Sussex County Council, and Littlehampton Town Council’s decision to close the charity’s base at the Dairy Community Centre, in Church Street, by April.

But on Friday (May 31) a glimmer of light shone through all the darkness of the past year, as ACCT celebrated purchasing its new headquarters at the Rudford Industrial Estate, in Ford.

“The past year has been horrific, to be quite frank,” admitted ACCT project manager Peter Austin. “It has been very hard to find a place that suited out needs.

“We really wanted somewhere in Littlehampton still, but everywhere we looked was just too expensive.

“We broadened our search to Rustington and the problem was the same there. We couldn’t afford to rent, yet alone buy.

“But then we found this premises, which was perfect. Now we just need to get the message out that we’re still around.”

The new facility, at unit S3, boasts a number of new facilities from a purpose-built indoor storage area for the charity’s fleet of vehicles, to a larger, more modern office space for staff and volunteers.

The centre cost about £125,000.

However, Peter said the organisation could never have bought the site without sizeable donations from kindhearted people supporting its bid to secure the cash needed for the £45,000 deposit on the industrial unit.

He added: “We’re all so grateful to everyone who has supported us over the past few months.

“It has been a very difficult time but I really think it has helped us in the long-run.

“It’s opened our eyes and allowed us to focus on where our priorities lie.”

ACCT operates across the Arun district. It can also transport people further a field, if consulted. Opening hours are 8.30am-4.45pm, Monday-Friday. For more information, call 01903 723584 or see, www.arun-cct.org