A LOCAL day care centre’s decision to go private could have been saved from shutting down for good.

Belhaven Day Centre in Troon, run by manager Lynn Skedd, decided to go privately-owned, stepping away from the previously run council organisation.

With news emerging that 50 day care centres have closed over the last decade, the local organisation has benefitted from moving into the private sector.

Lynn said: “We came away from the council about a year and a half ago and took the decision to do our own thing. We have been doing pretty well but we are certainly not closing.

“Funding comes from the service users themselves and the centre acts a sort of social club to try and combat social isolation within the elderly.

“There are a lot of people who are socially isolated out there who don’t have much family or any family at all, but they can come here and mix with other likeminded people.

“When I hear these places are shutting, it is extremely sad. Vital services are shutting within the community and people are left in their home which puts pressure on other services.

“If they are in the day centre they are getting the care they need and a fresh meal every day. They are also involved in the social side which helps their mental state which is equally important at that age.”

Lynn said although it has been tough at times, she is determined to keep the centre running and is confident they will succeed.

She added: “Don’t get me wrong it has been tough. We used to always shave a drip feed from the council with clients getting referred. I used to have a healthy waiting list, but I don’t have that at the moment. But that is not to say the service isn’t been driving forward.

“I am lucky to have a great team of passionate staff who help me drive this place forward which is really lucky. This place will shut over my dead body!”