Christmas gift is ‘perfect present’ (From Keighley News)
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Christmas gift is ‘perfect present’
9:00am Friday 28th December 2012 in Keighley
Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice in Oxenhope gets the perfect Christmas present from Perry Austin-Clarke, seen presenting the grant to Jo Addie and ward manager Sarah Bottomley
Three good causes have received thousands of pounds of grants, with one saying its share has saved a community centre from closure.
The Gannett Foundation, run by the owners of the Keighley News, awarded £26,268 in total locally, with Newsquest (Bradford) group editor Perry Austin-Clarke presenting cheques to Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice in Oxenhope, St Ives Riding for the Disabled in Harden and the Oxenhope Community Association.
The latter claimed the money could save the village community centre.
The Sue Ryder hospice received £6,990, St Ives Riding was given £9,278 and Oxenhope Community Association £10,000.
Foundation trustees award the grants to groups that deliver a lasting benefit to the communities served by Newsquest newspapers.
Richard Cusdin, of Oxenhope Community Association, said the grant meant it could start much-needed refurbishment work on the building. Home to groups as diverse as pre-schools and gardening clubs, any income it generates goes towards gas and electricity bills, meaning basic maintenance work on the building is long overdue.
Mr Cusdin said: “Because of the health and safety situation, we really were heading for closure.
“This grant gives us some inspiration. This is the step we needed to get things started. There are an awful lot of groups that use this facility. If the centre closed, they would be devastated.”
Manorlands hospice will buy two new airbeds to prevent patients from getting bedsores.
Ward manager, Sarah Bottomley, said: “This generous gift is fantastic. We are really, really pleased – we couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present.”
St Ives Riding for the Disabled allows disabled people to go horse riding on the estate.
It plans to expand its service by buying a new horse and specially-adapted carriage, which will allow wheelchair users to learn to ride.
Barbara Chuter, of St Ives, said: “We are so thrilled.”
Mr Austin-Clarke said: “It was a real pleasure to be able to act as Santa Claus for a few hours and hand over the cheques to these three outstanding charities, who are all highly deserving causes – and each for very different reasons.”
