Grace Eyre is heartbroken to announce that we have had to take the very difficult decision to not go ahead with our Big Build – the capital project to refurbish our Montefiore Road building that has been our base since 1950.
We have been planning this amazing development since 2018 and, this year, we were at last ready to go ahead with this ambitious and exciting renovation project to transform the headquarters of the charity into 8 flats for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people, office space for our staff and a state of the art community arts centre for artists to exhibit and perform in a theatre run by and used by people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
However, the harsh reality of a difficult social care climate caused by the actions of the government and local authorities have tipped the feasibility of the project away from us. The introduction of increases to National Insurance and the Real Living Wage has cost us over £700k, which represents a rise in costs of 8%.
Additionally, Brighton & Hove City Council’s decision to offer us a 0% increase to provide our services has further increased our uncertainties and we are probably facing the most difficult financial environment of the last 15 years. These actions are threatening to push us and many other charities like us to our limits. With many social care providers already operating on extremely tight budgets, these decisions jeopardise vital services and are resulting in job losses and leaving families without the critical care and support they so urgently need.
Grace Eyre is determined to ensure our charity can continue to support more than 600 people with a learning disability and/or autistic people going forward, which is why we have had to take this very difficult decision. We need all our resources to continue our work, and we will continue to stand firm against any additional pressures that may compromise the health and well-being of society’s most vulnerable members.
Anna Cooley, Chair of Grace Eyre:
“We are all hugely disappointed to not be able to progress with the Big Build. It was a very difficult decision for the trustees however given the current financial climate it is the right decision for our amazing charity. Our focus going forwards will be to strengthen and grow our existing services and to develop new offers that work for the people who use our services. We are positive about the future and excited to welcome the next chapter for Grace Eyre.”
A Thank You to Our Supporters
We are beyond grateful to everyone who has donated to the Big Build so far, big or small, and very sad and sorry we haven’t been able to realise our big ambitions for our home of more than 70 years. We will be in touch separately with all donors but please be assured that any money we are given will continue to be used to build better futures for people with a learning disability and autistic people, throughout all the locations Grace Eyre works.
We would also like to thank everyone who has worked so hard for a long time to try to make our dream a reality.
Even though we are devastated that our big dream is no more, we are and always have been, far more than one building. Our Active Lives service is thriving at its new base in Telecom House and, despite current challenges, we are continuing to deliver and develop further activities and other pioneering services throughout the rest of the city, Sussex and beyond. Wherever we are, we are still Grace Eyre, delivering our high quality, user-led, innovative services, events and support.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
If you have any questions in relation to this announcement, please contact our CEO, Eva Eriksson at eeriksson@grace-eyre.org or email Grace Eyre enquiries at enquiries@grace-eyre.org