Grace Eyre’s London cab has been seen around the streets of Brighton and Hove for the past ten years.
It was donated to the charity by The Argus Appeal and Legal & General in 2010 and was used to take people with learning disabilities to the Grace Eyre’s Active Lives sessions.
But the diesel cab has now become uneconomic to repair.
Paul Barker, one of Grace Eyre’s service managers for Brighton & Hove, said: “The taxi has been a real asset to Grace Eyre, it was used to drive people with learning disabilities so that they could attend sessions at our Active Lives centre and managers used it to travel between Grace Eyre’s supported living services. It’s colourful livery was also recognisable across the city!”
The mother of one of the hundreds of people who benefited from the taxi said: “The Grace Eyre taxi made an enormous difference to both our lives. Gone were the days when we had to drive to meet the minibus in Shoreham every day. And, with its distinctive colours, my daughter recognised the taxi as soon as it turned into our close.’’
The charity said it had a strong commitment to reducing the use of diesel vehicles and would be running its “Travel Buddy” scheme to support those using public transport to get to activities.
Grace Eyre’s deputy chief executive Chris Bland said: “We would like to pass on our thanks to both The Argus and Legal & General for enabling the charity to have such a fun vehicle to support people to do the things they want to do within their local communities.”
The Grace Eyre Foundation was named after founder Grace Eyre Woodhead, who would place children with learning disabilities living in London slums in holiday homes in East Sussex. Her work started back in 1898.
Grace Eyre now works to ensure all people with learning disabilities are respected as equal citizens, are part of and contribute to their communities and can fulfil their dreams and wishes.
It works to help find high quality housing, support and activities for those with learning disabilities within their own communities.
Emily Walker, The Argus 18/02/20