Age UK Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford: Relocation of Services, Closure of the Lyminge building and Future Plans

We at Age UK Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford wish to address the relocation of services and closure of the Lyminge building, a decision that has understandably caused concern. We hope to clarify why this step was necessary and outline our plans to continue supporting the Lyminge community.

Why the Lyminge building is Closing

The closure of the Lyminge building was a difficult but essential decision driven by financial challenges. Like many charities, we are facing reduced government funding and a lack of external funding for specific services, such as Dementia and Wellbeing. Despite efforts to encourage greater use of the building, its operational costs, encompassing rent, maintenance, safety checks, repairs, insurance etc, have far exceeded the income generated by the activities, charity shop, and café.

Continuing to maintain the building would risk the long-term sustainability of our services across Hythe, Lyminge, and Ashford. By reallocating resources, we can focus on delivering vital support to more people in need.

Changes to Services

• Dementia Day Break Service: This vital service will relocate to our Hythe hub, where we can increase capacity and support a larger number of people living with dementia and their carers.
• Laundry Service: The Laundry Service ceased after the final delivery during the week commencing 16th December. Due to low demand and the unsustainable cost of maintaining the service without imposing unaffordable price increases, it was no longer viable. Clients have been informed, and details of other local service providers have been passed on to ensure they can access alternative services in the area.

• Charity Shop and Café: These facilities, while valued by members of the community, fall outside our core charitable objectives. Despite their contributions, the income generated is not enough to cover the costs associated with maintaining the building.

Supporting the Lyminge Community

Our commitment to Lyminge remains steadfast, and we are taking steps to ensure continued support:

• Outreach Programmes: We are exploring partnerships with local venues to host activities and services in the village, maintaining opportunities for social interaction and wellbeing.
• Transport Solutions: We are considering subsidised travel and volunteer-led transport schemes to help residents access services in Hythe and Ashford.
• Core Services: Key programmes like Meals on Wheels, Home Support, and specialised dementia services and support for carers will continue to serve the Lyminge area.

Staff Impact

One role, out of six, has resulted in redundancy. This individual holds a primary job outside of Age UK, and we are offering support during this transition. All other staff members are transitioning and will move to Hythe to ensure consistency and the continued level of care.

Financial Transparency

We want to reassure the community that our finances are independently audited annually to ensure transparency. Operational decisions are informed by monthly internal financial reviews, and our accounts reflect the financial realities of the entire organisation.

Building a Sustainable Future

Relocating services is not a decision we made lightly, but it is necessary to safeguard the long-term sustainability of our organisation and the services we provide. Consolidating operations at Hythe will allow us to expand critical services like dementia support while reducing overhead costs.

The closure of the Lyminge building marks the end of a chapter but not our commitment to the community. We value the collaboration and support of Lyminge residents and will continue working with local stakeholders, including the Parish Council, to explore alternative venues and solutions for delivering services.

We thank you for your understanding during this transition and welcome your feedback. Together, we can ensure that Lyminge remains a community where older people feel supported and connected.

If you would like to share suggestions or discuss our plans further, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Board of Trustees,

Age UK Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford