Should KCC subsidy of Age UK Tunbridge Wells continue?

In 2009 Age Concern and Help the Aged merged and in 2010 adopted the name Age UK.  This was a merger of national organisations.  Local Age Concerns either continued as independent charities and retained the name Age Concern or changed their name to reflect a connexion with Age UK.  Tunbridge Wells Age Concern is now Age UK Tunbridge Wells, whilst Southborough and High Brooms  has retained the Age Concern name.

Southborough and High Brooms Age Concern once operated two day centres using premises at Christ Church Southborough and St Matthew High Brooms. Both centres have closed as the charity was of the opinion they were not financially viable.  The trust funds are used for other purposes.

Tunbridge Wells has soldiered on and continues to operate a day centre but it is reliant on KCC funding for the centre to continue.  KCC has indicated that funding will be withdrawn with the usual Liberal Democrat Pavlov's dog reaction.  A petition has been raised urging KCC to continue funding.  What the petition does not do is state how much funding is received from KCC and what proportion it is of total annual income.  Odd.


How many Age Concern/Age UK day centres are there in Kent?  How many currently receive KCC funding and what proportion is it of total income?

Over many years the charity sector has been warned of that the days of reliance on public funding are over. Funding streams must be diversified for charities to survive.  Some charities have succeeded, others have not.

Tunbridge Wells Age Concern, as it was then known as pre 2010,  once operated lunch clubs for older people at two locations.  One was in Rusthall, the other I think was in Paddock Wood.  Both closed.  Our then Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Wratten suggested Tunbridge Wells Borough Council should step in with funding.  Some things never change.  In the event Rusrhall Lunch Club was formed through the local churches and continues to this day.