ARRCC , founded 14 years ago, started as a provider of Activities, Respite, Rehabilitation and Care Centres for physically and sensory impaired adults. From assisting people recovering from illness and post-hospital trauma , it then developed into helping people live independently, and in combatting loneliness in the community.
ARRCC has a regular presence at Magdala House in Ferry Road day care centre (where the average age is apparently 85 plus) and the professional care provided by qualified staff and volunteers there and in other centres at Rye, Bexhill and Folkestone provide a relaxed and supportive environment for its customers who are known as ‘members’ and not as ‘clients’.
There are 22 paid staff based at Rye and around 60 and 70 volunteers between all the centres. Four minibuses, each fitted with tailgate lifts for wheelchairs, are used for bringing people to each centre, and for shopping expeditions or other purposes, all designed to improve the mobility of up to 90 members served by the three centres. The youngest member is 18.
ARRCC’s association with the School Creative Centre started some three years ago with the renting of a downstairs room for members engaging in pottery and art classes. Then in February 2014, the lease of the whole former Freda Gardham school site was taken over from East Sussex County Council, including its existing tenancy arrangements for about 30 artists’ studios.
There individual artists practice their crafts of painting, print-making, sculpture, textile design and photography and they include Susan Prince, Textile Artist, and Bethan Hopkins, Illustrator, both hard at work in their separate studios – and other facilities include an audio-active studio, and theatre space.
The Creative School Centre is “the mothership”’, co-ordinating activities for ARRCC members (and some for the public). Four paid and three volunteer tutors teach music, pottery, art and more practical activities such as fishing and gardening; and working age adult members can go fishing with a qualified tutor or horse carriage-driving at Woodchurch in specially adapted vehicles which permit the control of the reins from the wheelchair.
The game of boccia, using a soft ball – and now a Paralympic sport – is designed to improve motor skills and can be played on the field, under cover or in the theatre. Each weekday a counselling service is available and therapy for those born with physical defects or suffering post-operation traumatic disorders following strokes or accidents perhaps. Music therapy is offered by Liz Butt of the Music Well and members’ artwork now adorns the walls.
ARRCC is a very professional organisation. Grace O’Neill is Chief Executive, responsible to a board of trustees, chaired by Tony Moore with Jack Hemmings as Treasurer. Its funding comes from local authority support, donations and legacies, and the modest fees paid by its members for use of the services. “We have to be a business” says ARRCC’s Press Officer Irma Mortlock “because ESCC funding is being cut and there are threats of more to come” and the need to secure a sound financial future has led to the introduction of new ventures such as the furniture warehouse, which opened last Saturday August 30.
Apart from the more usual activities such as open gardens, quiz nights and jumble sales, other events are regularly held, for example, concerts, mystery evenings and dining. Then there is the new charity shop in Cinque Ports Street, “which has proved a phenomenal success in the year or so it’s been open ” said Irma “ and the profits are shared 50% with ARRCC and 50% with local charities.” The shop is run in association with volunteers sponsored under the Neighbourhood Enablers programme. For further information visit www.arrcc.org.uk.